INQUIRER Sports

SINGAPORE -- Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Adam Scott will head an A-list cast at the Barclays Singapore Open in November, organisers said Tuesday, as they make a lucrative $10-million swing through Asia.

World number two Mickelson, enticed to the tournament last year for his first visit to Asia since 2003, will jet in again on his private plane, hoping to do better than his previous lackluster performance.

Last year, the American was suffering from smoke and ash he inhaled from the California wildfires that devastated the area around his home. While he made the cut, he was never in contention.

Also returning is South Korea's K.J Choi and Ireland's Darren Clarke, who has finally regained form.

Organizers said they were in negotiations with other marquee names who are expected to tee-off at the $5-million tournament in Sentosa Island from November 13-16.

"Over the last three years the Singapore Open has generated a lot of interest around the world and a lot of star players have come to us and asked to be involved," said tournament chairman Bob Tan.

"There will be more announcements later."

Part of the attraction is the prize money on offer and the fact that the tournament runs back-to-back with the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, which also offers $5 million.

Mickelson, the defending HSBC champion, as well as Scott, are also confirmed for that event, along with two-time British Open winner Padraig Harrington, Spain's Sergio Garcia and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

Tan revealed that negotiations were underway to co-sanction the Singapore Open with the European Tour. It is currently an Asian Tour event.

"Discussions have taken place between the Asian Tour and the European Tour but at this stage no decisions have been taken," he said.

Asian Tour chief executive Kyi Hla Han said market forces would dictate what happens.
"Since making its return in 2005, the stature of the Barclays Singapore Open has risen to unprecedented heights that this championship now symbolizes the growing strength of Asian golf," he said.

"To get the stature of the tournament up even further, sponsors are keen at looking at a co-sanction."