World number four Adam Scott will defend his Singapore Open title in November, with world number five Vijay Singh and world number six Ernie Els attempting to dethrone him.
The golfing big guns are heading to the city-state with prize money for the tournament at the newly renovated Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club boosted by $1-million to $4-million this year.
Organisers, who have ambitious plans to make the Open the ”Major of Asia”, have said they want to lift the cash pot to $5-million in 2008 to make it one of the most lucrative golf tournaments in the world.
Also in the field for the November 1 to 4 event are former US Open winner Michael Campbell, Ryder Cup hero and stalwart of the European Tour Darren Clarke, and one of Asia’s leading players, Shingo Katayama from Japan.
Organisers announced on Wednesday that a regional qualifying tournament would be held for the Open in Japan — the first time a tournament in Asia has held qualifiers outside its host country.
A total of 10 slots will be up for grabs at the Shinyo Country Club near Nagoya on October 1 and at another qualifier in Singapore on October 29 to 30.
”We set out to make the Barclays Singapore Open a true Open. Holding the first-ever qualifier outside of Singapore takes us a step further in that direction,” said Singapore Open chairperson Graham Bell.
Australia’s Scott, who held off South Africa’s Els in a play-off to win last year, will find himself treading into unfamiliar territory as he returns to defend his title.
The par-71 Serapong course has undergone a multimillion-dollar revamp in both course design and greens technology. Course yardage has also been lengthened from 6 565 to 6 710 yards.
The Open was revived in 2005 after a three-year break. It was first held in 1961. — AFP
