Thanks to his maiden victory on the Asian Tour just over two weeks ago, Dominic Foos is in a very different headspace ahead of this week’s Moutai Singapore Open.

The German triumphed in the SJM Macao Open, by overcoming Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan on the second play-off hole, and admits it was a psychological breakthrough.

“It’s been 10 years since I last won,” said 28-year-old Foos, today at Singapore Island Country Club – where the tournament commences on the New Course on Thursday.

“It was a very good learning experience. I definitely feel like it’s a big mental win for me, more so than anything else. Just knowing that, when I am in that position, I can get the job done number one, and number two – it just gives you a quick momentum.”

It was rich reward and relief for a golfer who made it through the previous two Asian Tour Qualifying Schools and was battling to keep his card for next year.

Foos was a teenage star and won numerous amateurs titles, including a hat-trick of titles in 2012: the German Match Play, German Boys Open, German National Boys Championship.

Dominic Foos holes out for the win in Macau. Paul Lakatos/IMG.

In 2015, a year after turning professional, he hit global headlines by winning The Gant Open on Europe’s Challenge Tour. He was just 17 years old and the Tour’s youngest ever winner at the time.

Few thought it would take another 10 years before he would win again, on the other side of the world.

He doesn’t dwell on why that was but does point to how he dealt with it.

He explains: “I mean, it was challenging, it was tough, but at the end of the day, I always looked at it as a test and finally, I’ve kind of broken through.

“The most important thing is actually the people around you. Because if you’re like, out there by yourself, and you have no idea what to do, and you’re struggling, it’s easy to look for something else. But obviously, having, my dad there with me, and, like, really believing in me, my family, people like Mr. Kramski.”

Mr Kramski is Wiestaw Kramski – the man behind the Kramski Putter, and a close friend.

“He’s a very close family friend. I have been putting with the Kramski Putter for over 15 years now. So very close relationship, and he’s been helping me through and through and just believing in me. So that was very vital to have good people around me, that believe in me,” added Foos.

After winning in Macau, the German missed the cut in both the Philippines and Hong Kong but felt he was not far off his best golf.

“Obviously been playing few weeks in a row, and then the week after Macau was Philippines. It was game on right away again. So obviously, a time to celebrate and enjoy, but also, you know, you got to get back and get the job done. I missed the cut by one there in the Philippines, but still played well. I just didn’t make any parts. I actually played really well. I almost hit the ball better than in Macau, I thought, but yeah, I mean, that’s golf, right?

“You’re winning one week, and then you feel like your game is in great shape the following week, but you’re missing the cut, feeling really good. Okay, yeah, I played solid in Hong Kong as well. Just a couple of things weren’t quite as sharp.”

This week is his eighth event in a row, and he is looking forward to a break.

He’ll play the two upcoming events in Saudi Arabia on the Asian Tour, and plans to ‘re-evaluate’ at the start of next year – where thankfully there will be no Qualifying School for him.

His win in Macau earned him a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour. He is aiming to make full use of it, carefully plan his year and look forward to some stability as he enters an exciting new phase of his career.

The Moutai Singapore Open is the penultimate event on The International Series this year – the set of tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar, that provide a pathway on to the LIV Golf League. The two two finishers on The International Series Rankings will qualify for the LIV Golf League in 2026.