Rankings boost for "Asia’s Major"

It’s official.

The Barclays Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club is the most important tournament on planet golf this week.

With a field of dreams including three of this year’s Major winners, more world ranking points are up for grabs than at any other event in the world.

The presence of Martin Kaymer, who won the US PGA Championship, Masters champion Phil Mickelson and US Open winner Graeme McDowell has boosted the number of ranking points available.

Kaymer is ranked third in the world, Mickelson fourth and McDowell 10th.

The winner will receive 48 points, way ahead of what is on offer at the JBWere Masters in Australia (30), the Children’s Miracle Network Classic on the US PGA Tour (24) and the Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Golf Tour (20).

Respected golf writer Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press was quick to comment on the importance of the Barclays Singapore Open.

"Rare when the PGA Tour has the third-strongest field in golf as it is this week (behind Singapore and Australia)," he wrote on Twitter.

Chris Jordan, Senior Vice-President of golf for tournament promoters World Sport Group said that the Barclays Singapore Open had grown into one of the most prestigious events in world golf.

"The world ranking points available this week underlines the stature of the Barclays Singapore Open as "Asia’s Major" and a magnet for the stars of the game," he said.

The Barclays Singapore Open is being co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours for the second year.