HARRINGTON AND ELS RETURN TO BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN

By Jaiarajo Letchumanan

SINGAPORE, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Major champions Padraig Harrington from
Ireland and South African Ernie Els will return to play in this year's Barclays
Singapore Open, where they both finished runner-up last season.

The Barclays Singapore Open will be played on The Serapong Course at Sentosa
Golf Club from Oct 29 to Nov 1 and will boast total prize money of US$5million -
once again making it the richest national Open in Asia.

South Korea's Choi Kyung-ju and Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland will add
further star appeal to the tournament, which for the first time is being
joint-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Harrington and Els are ranked 9th and 20th in the world respectively, and
finished tied for second place at The Barclays tournament in New York, last
weekend.

Both missed makeable birdie putts on the final hole of the 2008 Barclays
Singapore Open that would have forced a play-off with eventual champion Jeev
Milkha Singh from India.

The duo, who have both claimed three Majors during their illustrious
careers, will be looking to finish one place better this year.

Els also finished second in the 2006 Barclays Singapore Open when Australian
Adam Scott beat him in a gripping three-hole play-off.

More marquee names will be announced in the coming weeks with players from
all over the world eager to tee up in the 46th edition of the event.

"The co-sanctioning of the Open will further enhance what has already become
a flagship tournament in Asia. We look forward to an even more successful
championship, both for the players and the spectators," said Robert Morrice,
Chairman and Chief Executive of Barclays Asia.

As a full field event of 156 players, the Open will comprise 65 players from
each Tour with a further 10 places available through a local qualifying event on
Sunday and Monday before the tournament proper and there will be nine
invitations, four amateurs and three Singaporean professionals.

"The Barclays Singapore Open has not only put Singapore on the golfing map,
it has announced Sentosa's arrival on the world stage as a premier lifestyle
destination and a playground for all leisure activities and sporting events,"
said Low Teo Ping, Board Member, Sentosa Development Corporation and Vice
Captain, Sentosa Golf Club.

Singapore's national Open was not played between 2002 and 2004, but returned
to the Asian Tour in 2005, thanks to the support of Sentosa and efforts of the
event promoter World Sport Group.

Scott triumphed in 2005 and 2006 before Angel Cabrera of Argentina claimed
the spoils in 2007.

This year's Barclays Singapore Open will once again be broadcast live on all
four days through ESPN Star Sports.

"The Open is the highlight of the year on the Asian golf calendar and World
Sport Group are proud to promote the tournament for the fifth year. We have over
10 years of experience in running golf tournaments in Asia and we have been able
to successfully use this knowledge to make the Barclays Singapore Open an event
that is second to none in the region," said Chris Jordan, Senior Vice President
- Golf, World Sport Group.
-- BERNAMA