Rankings Boost for "Asia's Major"

Singapore, November 16: It's official. The Barclays Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club was the most important tournament on planet golf last week in terms of prize money and world ranking points.

With a field packed full of Major winners, the US$6 million championship had more world rankings points up for grabs than any other event.

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who feared earlier this year that he may never play golf again because of a serious back injury, was awarded 46 points for his playoff victory, catapulting him up to 58th in the world.

Runner-up Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines also leapt up the rankings, rising from 492nd to 177th thanks to the 27.6 points he picked up.

Australia's Greg Chalmers received 42 world ranking points for his win at the US$1.54 million Emirates Australian Open while amateur Hideki Matsuyama snared 26 points for an impressive victory at the Taiheiyo Masters on the Japan Golf Tour.

In all, 56 players competing in the Barclays Singapore Open received all-important world ranking points while 50 competitors in the Emirates Australian Open were awarded points.

Since the Barclays Singapore Open came back onto the schedule in 2005, it has grown into one of the most prestigious events in the world and has been dubbed "Asia's Major".

Prize money has increased from US$2 million to US$6 million making it the richest national Open in Asia and one of the most lucrative events on the European Tour schedule.