Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els to play at Barclays Singapore Open

Five of the biggest names in world golf will play in the Barclays Singapore Open in November 2008.

World number two Phil Mickelson from the United States, South African Ernie Els, ranked seventh in the world, Australian Adam Scott, the winner in 2005 and 2006, Korean star Choi Kyung-ju and Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland will compete at Sentosa Golf Club.

The tournament will be played on the Serapong Course from November 13 to 16 and boast prize money of US$5million - an increase of US$1million from last year.

The Barclays Singapore Open is a full-field event on the Asian Tour since it rejoined the schedule in 2005 and last year, Angel Cabrera of Argentina, then the reigning US Open champion, held off a spirited challenge from Fiji's Vijay Singh for a one-shot victory.

Before a huge final-day gallery that witnessed a thrilling duel between Cabrera and Singh, the Argentine sealed the title with a one-over-par 72 for an eight-under-par 276 winning total.

More marquee names will be announced in the coming weeks and months with players from all over the world eager to play in the Barclays Singapore Open.

Mickelson competed in last year's Barclays Singapore Open which marked his first appearance on the Asian Tour. He was unable to feature on the leaderboard but with two wins under his belt this year in the Northern Trust Open and the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial he will once again tee-off as one of the favourites.

Els surprisingly missed the cut by a shot at last year's Barclays Singapore Open and the three-time Major winner will be keen to show the form that saw him battle Scott for the title in a gripping three-hole play-off in 2006.

World number 15 Scott, winner of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour in late April, narrowly missed out on a Barclays Singapore Open three-peat last year finishing in third place.

Choi, who is one place lower than Scott on the rankings, won the Sony Open in Hawaii this year for his seventh title on the US PGA Tour. He also competed in Singapore last year and as Asia's most successful golfer will return as one of the crowd favourites.

Another popular player will be Clarke who has returned to winnings ways this year claiming the BMW Asian Open and the KLM Dutch Open. He made the trip to Singapore last season and on current form could be among the frontrunners.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said the region's stars will relish the opportunity of competing against the world's best players in what is the Tour's flagship tournament.

"Since making its return in 2005, the stature of the Barclays Singapore Open has risen to unprecedented heights that this great Championship now symbolises the growing strength of Asian golf.”