Singapore Open slips under radar
BY Bruce Young | Asian Tour | 2011 Barclays Singapore Open | Preview | 08 Nov 2011
Although much of the limelight and storylines of world golf have been taken by this week’s Emirates Australian Open, there is still a very important event being played out in Singapore.
The European and Asian Tours join forces this week for the Barclays Singapore Open and while the field might not be the as strong at the top end as that lining up in Sydney it is still one of quality.
The absence of three time champion Adam Scott is a blow for the organisers, the Australian unable to compromise his own national open and an arguably better preparation for next week’s Presidents Cup for the chance to win again at the Tanjong and Serapong layouts at the Sentosa Golf Club.
Phil Mickelson’s close ties to the tournament’s naming rights sponsor ensures his presence and as the leading world ranked player in the field he deserves to be one of the favourites. Mickelson has not won since his victory in Houston earlier in the year but there have been plenty of good finishes in the meantime including when runner-up at the Open Championship.
Mickelson’s last offical event was when 10th at the Tour Championship so might well be in need of tournament golf to get right for next week’s Presidents Cup.
One or two players who have been missing in action for some time but who seem to be getting things back on track could well make a difference this week.
Anthony Kim and Louis Oosthuizen now appear to have their games back, Kim running McIlory close at the Shanghai Masters and Oosthuizen returning from the doldrums for several good finishes in recent weeks.
Graeme McDowell has played well at the Alfred Dunhill and the HSBC of late and, importantly, did finish third behind Adam Scott in this event last year.
It was not all that long ago that Justin Rose was winning one of the Fed Ex Cup playoff events in Chicago and his 7th place finish last week in Shanghai was convincing enough for him to be a factor.
There is a large contingent of Australians in the field despite this event clashing with their own national open but with their own long term careers to worry about they are in Singapore for the US$6 million event.
Marcus Fraser, Andrew Dodt, Brett Rumford, Scott Hend, Scott Strange, Matthew Zions, David Gleeson, Marcus Both, Rick Kulacz, Darren Beck, Scott Barr, Tony Carolan, Unho Park, Kunhal Basin, Adam Blyth, Tim Stewart, and Adam Groom make up that large group.
The New Zealanders in the field are Danny Lee fresh from his successful year on the Nationwide Tour and Mark Brown whose quest for 2012 European Tour playing rights is beginning to run out of time.
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