Ernie Els headlines a strong line-up at the $3-million Singapore Open this week with the three-time Major winner looking to chalk up his first victory in nine months.
As well as Els, world number five Adam Scott returns to defend his title, along with last year’s runner-up Lee Westwood, Japan’s number one Shingo Katayama and Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Jeev Milkha Singh of India.
New Zealander Michael Campbell, the 2005 United States Open champion, also tees off, as does Ireland’s Paul McGinley, who secured a Ryder Cup berth on the weekend.
But Darren Clarke, whose wife Heather died of cancer last month, has withdrawn.
Despite six top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year, Els has failed to break through for a morale-boosting victory since the Dunhill Championship in December last year.
The 36-year-old South African, though, believes he has shaken off the legacy of a career-threatening knee injury, which tipped him into a slump he is still trying to recover from.
”You know, I’ve been swinging the club well these past few weeks, so it’s just a case of getting back those good vibes in my game and slotting the swing back into the groove again,” he said.
”Overall, I’d say my game is in pretty good shape.”
Australian Scott, joint third in last week’s US PGA Championship, produced a virtuoso performance to win the event last year at the intimidating par-71 Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course.
”I haven’t played in Asia since winning in Singapore last year so it’s a good time for me to be back,” he said. ”I hope they will set it ([the course] up tough again as it was really a good test of golf. I remember just playing so well in the last round and ending up kind of running away with the tournament.”
Billed as the ”Major of Asia”, the tournament was given a boost when financial-services provider Barclays signed up as the leading sponsor earlier this year and injected cash into the event.
The $3-miilion at stake this year makes it the richest tournament in Asia, and the prize pot will be boosted to $4-million next year and $5-million in 2008 to make it one of the most lucrative in the world.
Campbell has been struggling to find winning form since his victory at the US Open last year but says he has learned to relax more, which he hopes will help him in Singapore.
”My main goal is to win, but I’m trying less, not putting so much pressure on myself,” he said. ”I am used to the humidity, the grasses here. I feel very comfortable here.”
As well as the star names from outside the region, 18 of the top 20 ranked players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit will compete.
Singh is strongly tipped to challenge for honours in his bid to win the Asian Tour number one title for the first time in his career.
Since winning the Volvo China Open in April for his first triumph in seven years, the Indian stalwart has posted eight more top-10s in Asia, Japan and Europe.
”I’ve got a lot of trust after winning the Volvo China Open. I now trust my game under pressure and I believe in myself. That’s taken me ahead. I’ve worked quite hard, although there could be a lot more improvements,” he said.
Last year’s Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand is a former Singapore Open champion and he believes that the demanding Serapong course will separate the men from the boys.
”I’m sure it’ll be a real challenge once again as even if you hit a good shot, you will likely have a long iron into the green.
”If you miss the fairway, it’s an easy bogey,” he said.
The Open was revived last year after a three-year break. It was first held in 1961. — Sapa-AFP