The Barclays Singapore Open, which is the richest national Open in Asia, will become a co-sanctioned tournament with The European Tour in 2009 when the 46th edition of the event is played at Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore, from October 29-November 1.
The European Tour is delighted to accept the invitation from the Asian Tour to participate in the US$5 million tournament, which will be worth US$833,330 to the winner and is certain to play a pivotal role in The Race to Dubai, which reaches a climax at Jumeirah Golf Estates three weeks later.
As a full field event of 156 players, the 2009 Barclays Singapore Open will comprise 65 players from each Tour with a further ten places available through a local qualifying competition, nine invitations, four amateurs and three Singaporean professionals.
The tournament, a long-standing event in the region since 1961, was not played between 2002 and 2004, but returned to the Asian Tour schedule in 2005 when it was won by Australia’s Adam Scott. Barclays support as title sponsor was secured from 2006 when Scott successfully defended the title, with Angel Cabrera of Argentina claiming the spoils in 2007. India’s Jeev Milkha Singh won the championship last year, which helped him lift a second Asian Tour Order of Merit title.
Promoted by World Sport Group and hosted by the magnificent Sentosa Golf Club, which was opened in 1974 by Singapore’s then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the Barclays Singapore Open becomes the 50th event and 27th destination on The European Tour International Schedule. It is the second event on the European Tour to be title-sponsored by Barclays in 2009 following The Barclays Scottish Open held at Loch Lomond Golf Club in July.
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said, “We are delighted to join forces with the Asian Tour for the 2009 Barclays Singapore Open. Barclays has been a committed and valued partner of The European Tour since 2001 through The Barclays Scottish Open and their support for golf is mirrored in Asia via the Barclays Singapore Open.
“Our Members will unquestionably enjoy playing at a superb venue in Sentosa Golf Club, especially at a time in the calendar when many of our leading players will be seeking to improve or consolidate their ranking in The Race to Dubai with the Dubai World Championship only three weeks away. A victory or high-placed finish at Sentosa could have a huge influence on the outcome of The Race to Dubai.”
Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, commented: “As Asia’s richest national Championship, the Barclays Singapore Open has long been the flagship event on the Asian Tour, attracting the Tour’s best players. With the inclusion of the European Tour as a sanctioning partner, this event provides the galleries with a world-class spectacle of golf as our top players are given the opportunity to take on the best from The European Tour.
“The Barclays Singapore Open holds a special place in the hearts of our talented players as this championship is staged at Sentosa, which is the home of the Asian Tour. We have been fortunate to have two wonderful partners in Barclays and Sentosa who continue to raise the benchmark for professional golf in Asia. Sentosa was instrumental in reviving the Singapore Open in 2005 and it continues to exceed itself by delivering a superb Serapong course, which is a worthy stage for a great championship.”
European Tour www.europeantour.com
Asian Tour www.asiantour.com