HOWELL JOINS IN THE FRAY FOR BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN

    A wonderful talent, the American is the PGA Tour's 14th leading money earner this season and he will join four of the world's top 10 players in Singapore to vie for the US$4 million total prize money.  

    Emerging champion at the recent Nissan Open, Howell defeated Phil Mickelson (world no. 2) and Ernie Els (no. 4) when he finished 16 under par to secure his best outing on the PGA Tour. He has also secured four other top-10s this season.

     This November, Howell will meet the two top players again at the Barclays Singapore Open together with other top 10 players including two-time defending champion Adam Scott of Australia (no. 6) and Korean star Choi Kyung-ju (no. 8).

     The other big names who have confirmed their entries in the full-field Asian Tour event include reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina and world number 12 Vijay Singh of Fiji.

     At a young age of 28, Howell has been dubbed as one of the most promising golfers to watch. He underlined his potential by winning the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year title in 2001. The addition of Howell to the stellar line-up will promise an exciting challenge on the field.

     Bob Tan, Chairman of the Barclays Singapore Open steering committee said, "2007 has been phenomenal for Howell who has been selected to play at the Presidents Cup alongside Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk. With the stellar field at the Barclays Singapore Open this year, it will be interesting to watch if the young golfer adds another feather to his cap out in Asia."

    The Barclays Singapore Open will once again be held on Sentosa's par-71 Serapong championship course from 1-4 November 2007. Leading international and Asian golfers will vie for the US$4 million prize purse, Asia's richest national Open.

     The tournament, which started in 1961, has grown from strength to strength since Sentosa revived it in 2005 after a three-year break. Starting with a prize purse of US$2 million in 2005, it was raised to US$3million in 2006, and will reach US$5 million in 2008.

     Attracting the world's top golfing stars and leading Asian players, the Barclays Singapore Open set its sights on being the 'Major of Asia' and is benchmarked against the highest standards in the world of golf. 

     The Barclays Singapore Open is held on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club. Each year, the course's long rough has proven to be a severe challenge. Nonetheless, Scott has won the tournament for two years running, and he returns to attempt a hat-trick win in 2007. He beat Els by two shots in a three-hole play-off as both stars were tied on 8 under par for a score of 205 last year.

    Sentosa Golf Club

    One of the region's premier golf clubs, Sentosa Golf Club was opened in 1974 by Singapore's then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Sentosa Golf Club is home to Asia's biggest national open golf championship - the Barclays Singapore Open as well as host to the Asian qualifying rounds of the Open Championship on behalf of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

     In 2006, Sentosa's Serapong course was again voted Best Course in Singapore by readers of Asian Golf Monthly magazine. In addition, Sentosa Golf Club was voted Host Venue of the Year by members of the Asian Tour after hosting a very successful 2006 Barclays Singapore Open.