By Asian Tour

Sentosa, November 7: The best of Asia, led by the six recent Order of Merit champions, will be aiming for a famous victory at the cash-rich Barclays Singapore Open next week.

Eighteen of the current top-20 players from the merit list will also be in the elite field at Sentosa Golf Club from November 13 to 16 where world number two Phil Mickelson, two-time winner Adam Scott and Padraig Harrington, a double major winner this season, will headline the US$5 million full-field Asian Tour event.

Asia has not celebrated a home triumph in Singapore since the event was revived in a big way in 2005, with Thailand’s evergreen Thaworn Wiratchant, holder of a record 10 titles on the Asian Tour, being the last Asian winner in 2001.

Reigning Asian Tour number one Liang Wen-chong will lead the cast alongside former Order of Merit champions - India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa, Thaworn and his compatriot Thongchai Jaidee.  

New Zealand’s Mark Brown, currently leading the race to become Asia’s number one in 2008 after two victories, will defend his lead of over US$150,000 from Singh as the Asian Tour enters its business end of its season.

Other leading names who are tipped to challenge for the Barclays Singapore Open title which comes with a lucrative first prize cheque of US$792,500 include Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, who has won twice in Japan this season, India’s S.S.P. Chowrasia and Korea’s exciting duo Bae Sang-moon and Noh Seung-yul, winners this season at the age of 22 and 17 respectively.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han is expecting the cream of the region to whip up a strong challenge.

“The Barclays Singapore Open will be a gathering of not only the world’s best players but also the finest from the Asian Tour. This will ensure a great week of golf which will showcase Asia’s strength in depth. It’s going to be a huge week as Sentosa is the Home of the Asian Tour,” said Han.

Apart from Mickelson, Scott and Harrington, South African star Ernie Els, Korea’s K.J. Choi, a seven-time winner on the US PGA Tour and Europe’s Ryder Cup stalwarts Ian Poulter and Oliver Wilson will also feature at Sentosa’s Serapong course.

Thaworn, who is enjoying another stellar season with one win and five other top-10s, is relishing the opportunity to vie for the Barclays Singapore Open title.

“It’s always good to have a chance to go back and play in Singapore. That win in 2001 will always hold fond memories for me and I’ll try my best to win again next week,” said the 41-year-old Thai, who was Asia’s number in 2005.

India’s Singh will return to Sentosa after missing out on last year’s event and with the Order of Merit title at stake, he knows that a strong showing will push him closer towards his second Merit crown.

“I’m playing well and I’m feeling in good shape now. The next few weeks are going to be pretty exciting because these big prize money events will largely determine the Order of Merit champion.

“I’m going to focus on one event at a time, play my best and we’ll see how it shapes up,” said Singh, the region’s top performer in 2006.

The top Asian finishers in the past three years at the Barclays Singapore Open will also throw in their challenges. Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, sixth last year, Liang, fourth in 2006 and Korea’s Ted Oh, also fourth in 2005, will be hoping to improve on their record at Sentosa.