Major Champions lead charge at Barclays Singapore Open

The US$6 million Barclays Singapore Open will get off to a flying start at Sentosa Golf Club on Thursday with Major winners Phil Mickelson of the United States, Padraig Harrington and Y.E. Yang grouped together on The Tanjong Course.

World number 11 Mickelson, the highest ranked player in the field, Ireland’s Harrington and Yang, the first Asian to win a Major, tee off on the first at 9.25 am.

Following them at 9.35 am will be another high-profile group including Colombian Camilo Villegas, one of the most stylish players in world golf, 2008 Barclays Singapore Open champion Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Major winner Retief Goosen of South Africa.

Three-time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, India’s S.S.P Chowrasia, the current leader of the Asian Tour moneylist, and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari are next off at 9.45am.

Over on The Serapong Course, 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland will play with former European number one Robert Karlsson of Sweden and big-hitting Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat. They tee off from the first hole at 12.30 pm.

The 12.40 pm flight on The Serapong Course features three-time Major champion Ernie Els, who was runner up in 2006 and 2008, Tetsuji Hiratsuka of Japan, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour who currently lies second on the Order of Merit, and England’s Justin Rose, who won the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour in September.

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, a 12-time winner on the Asian Tour, is grouped with in-form Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, who has won three times on the European Tour this season, and popular Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez are next off at 12.50pm.