Singapore: Among the 29 nationalities represented at the Serapong golf course, few are as complex as Pakistan in sports. Golf, however, has never captured popular imagination and remains the privilege of the super elite. Their domestic tour boasts of around 200 professionals, but none holds playing rights on any international tour, except Ahmad Baig.
Baig shone bright under the unforgiving Sentosa sun on Saturday to jump 23 places on the leaderboard and take a creditable tied-fifth on the penultimate day of the $2million International Series event. He carded a bogey-free 4-under that included birdies on holes 4 and 5 and an eagle on par 5 seventh.
Being the only Pakistani on the tour presents its own challenges, including loneliness and logistics. Baig has shifted base to Jakarta on a one-year permit to give himself a chance to compete in more events. He travels with his best friend Salman, who caddies for him.
New friendships have been forged on the course as well. Baig is close to Gaganjeet Bhullar, Karandeep Kochhar, Yuvraj Sandhu, Pukhraj Singh Gill Ajeetesh Sandhu, and SSP Chawrasia. Chawrasia has advised him to try and play on the DP World Tour, which Baig hopes to do someday.
Baig's rise has been quite swift. He made his Asian Tour debut in 2025 thanks to a fourth-place finish on the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit a year before, and has held his card since. His journey from Lahore to Asian Tour began on a fortuitous note, with his elder brother Usman caddying at the Lahore Garrison Greens Golf Club.
Baig's interest in golf was met with stiff resistance from Usman, who wanted him to do well in academics. He eventually turned pro in 2019 and is now a member of the Royal Palm Golf Club in Lahore, with a sponsor that covers all his expenses.
