Bangkok--9 Jul--Grayling First-ever overseas regional qualifier, and a stellar line-up led by Adam Scott who will attempt a hat-trick of wins Organisers of Asia’s richest national Open — the Barclays Singapore Open — today announced plans to hold the tournament’s first overseas regional qualifier in Japan. A first for any tournament in Asia to hold qualifiers outside its host country, the regional qualifier is a testament to the growing international appeal of the Barclays Singapore Open as golfers vie for a spot in the stellar field. To be held on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club on 1-4 November 2007, the overall purse for this year is a record US$4 million — an increase of US$1 million from last year. The qualifier in Japan will be held on 1 October 2007 at the Shinyo Country Club near Nagoya. A qualifier will also be held in Singapore on Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club from 29-30 October 2007. A total of 10 slots will be up for grabs - a minimum of two qualifying places will be available through the Japan qualifier and a further eight places will be accessible through the Singapore qualifier. The competition heats up Golfers who earn a spot in the field will have to contend with a line-up of international golfing stars. Two-time defending champion, world number 4, Australian Adam Scott will be back, hoping to perform a rare hat-trick of wins at the tournament. He will once again be up against the ‘Big Easy’, former world number one and two-time US Open winner Ernie Els, currently ranked world number 5, who is returning in a bid to claim the title that has so far eluded him. Making his debut in the tournament is world number 6, Vijay Singh, former Masters winner, and two-time PGA Championship winner. The line-up is strengthened by former US Open winner Michael Campbell[1] who famously held off Tiger Woods to clinch the 2005 title at Pinehurst No.2 and Ryder Cup hero and stalwart of the European Tour, Darren Clarke. Also competing will be one of Asia’s leading players, Shingo Katayama from Japan. His distinctive cowboy hat drew as much attention as his strong showing in last year’s championship. Graham Bell, Chairman of the Barclays Singapore Open organising committee said, “We set out to make the Barclays Singapore Open a true Open. Holding the first-ever qualifier outside of Singapore takes us a step further in that direction. With a stellar line-up, a new and improved Serapong Course, an even bigger prize purse of US$4 million and great partners that make it happen, this year’s Barclays Singapore Open will set new benchmarks for the tournament.” “True dedication and focus from all involved has made the Barclays Singapore Open one of Asia’s leading golf tournaments,” said Robert Morrice, Chairman and CEO of Barclays Asia. “This tournament is going from strength to strength, and like the other tournaments in our global golf portfolio it is attracting more and more of the world’s top golfers.” Barclays is the title sponsor of The Barclays in Westchester New York, the first tournament in the new PGA Tour Playoffs. Barclays also sponsors the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond in Scotland. New and Improved Serapong Adam Scott will find himself treading into unfamiliar territory this year as he returns to defend his title on the Serapong Course. The award-winning course has undergone a S$12 million revamp in both course design and greens technology, incorporating SubAir and PermOPore greens maintenance technology to boost a new configuration and bunker complexes, as well as faster and more challenging greens. Course yardage has also been lengthened from 6,565 to 6,710 yards (from the championship tees). Part of the renovations include plans to enhance the viewing experience for golfing fans as they join in the action throughout the four-day tournament. The new Serapong Pavilion, a new single-storey structure overlooking the 9th and 18th holes of the course is under construction to allow panoramic views up and down the adjoining fairways. Intended for members during normal days, it will host the players’ lounge and Barclays’ hospitality venue during the tournament. In anticipation of the massive crowd at the 2007 event, extra stands, buggy paths and bridges have been widened to improve the circulation of public galleries. Robert Bird, Executive Director of Sentosa Golf Club said, “As the host venue for the Barclays Singapore Open, we are determined to ensure that the Serapong course and facilities at Sentosa Golf Club keep pace with the growing prestige and status of the tournament. Winning the honour of being voted by Asian Tour players as the ‘Host Venue of the Year 2006’, we’re constantly looking at ways to improve the experience for both golfers and spectators at the Barclays Singapore Open”. These investments in the new course and facilities are also in line with the club’s long-term strategic plans to enhance the golfing experience for members and to position the club as the premier golfing destination in Asia. Notes to editor: About the Barclays Singapore Open The Barclays Singapore Open: 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. About 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. Barclays Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia. It is one of the largest financial services companies in the world by market capitalisation. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs 123,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 27 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com. Barclays in Singapore Barclays is represented in Singapore by three of the Group’s businesses; Barclays Capital, Barclays Wealth Management and Barclays Global Investors. In 2004 the firm opened a global support hub in Singapore, and in 2006 Barclays relocated its bank branch from Capital Square to One Raffles Quay to house its expanding investment banking businesses. Barclays has over 2000 employees in Singapore, a greater presence than in any of the 11 other markets in Asia Pacific in which it has offices, underlining its significant investment in and firm commitment to the country. For further information please contact: Nuttaporn Tangwongsan Grayling Thailand Tel: 02 231 8434 Fax: 02 231 8121 Email: [email protected] Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net