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Schwartzel hoping to cash in at Barclays

Charl Schwartzel, the top ranked player on the Southern Africa Tour for the past two seasons, will grace the fairways of the US$3 million Barclays Singapore Open next week at Sentosa Golf Club.

The 21-year-old South African, whose splendid resume also includes a victory on the European Tour, joins an outstanding array of stars at the Asian Tour event which is headlined by his compatriots Ernie Els and Tim Clark, defending champion Adam Scott from Australia and England’s Lee Westwood, last year’s runner up.

The Barclays Singapore Open is being played over the Serapong course from September 7 to 10, and also features Argentina’s Angel Cabrera, who finished equal fourth in the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at the weekend, and last year’s US Open champion Michael Campbell from New Zealand.

Since turning professional in 2002, Schwartzel has quickly established himself amongst the game’s elite.

He captured his first victory on the European Tour when he won the dunhill championship, in his native country in 2004.

Schwartzel followed that with a joint second place finish in the South African Airways Open, helping him top the Southern Africa Tour Order of Merit for the 2004/2005 season.

He retained his Merit list crown the following season by ending in second place in the dunhill championship and winning the Vodacom Tour Championship earlier this year.

“Sentosa are delighted that one of the rising stars of the game is coming to Singapore and we are sure his presence is bound to be an inspiration to young golfers,” said Graham Bell, Chairman, Barclays Singapore Open.

“Charl is clearly a star of the future and it will be wonderful to see his play in the Barclays Singapore Open with his more illustrious compatriots Ernie (Els) and Tim (Clark),” added Bell.

The South African has continued to play well in Europe throughout the season finishing runner up in the Barclays Scottish Open and the Players Championship of Europe. He currently lies in 12th place on the European Tour Order of Merit and is ranked 62nd in the world.

Schwartzel has not put a foot wrong in the game since taking up golf. In 2002 he became the third youngest player to secure his European Tour card through the Qualifying School when, at the age of 18 years and 81 days, he claimed 24th place.

He was also the second youngest South African to earn full membership of the European Tour after Dale Hayes.

The talented golfer arrived at the Qualifying School as a highly promising amateur with victories in the Brabazon Trophy and Indian Amateur Championship and having represented South Africa in the Eisenhower Trophy in Malaysia in 2002.

A total of 10 players ranked in the world’s top 50 will compete in the Barclays Singapore Open including American Fred Couples, Shingo Katayama from Japan, Australian Nick O’Hern and Ireland’s Paul McGinley.

August 28, 2006