Mickelson brings new swing to Singapore

World number two Phil Mickelson flew into town for the US$4 million Barclays Singapore Open on Tuesday ready to win one of Asia’s most sought after trophies.

The American superstar plans to unleash a remodelled swing at the challenging Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course as he headlines a star-studded tournament which includes four of the world’s top-10 players, including the Asian Tour’s leading stars.

Mickelson, a three-time Major champion, has been looking forward to a maiden visit to the Lion City where his wife and three young children have also taken the long flight to the Far East.

“When I was 12, my father came up to play in a world airline tournament here, he was an airline pilot, and they had a big event here in Singapore. He brought back a sweater vest that had Singapore Country Club and I wore that sweater for years. They came back and told us what a great place this was, so I wanted to come here for a long time. I’m very thankful that Barclays has made it possible for me to come to play in the Barclays Singapore Open,” said Mickelson.

He will face a glittering line-up which includes two-time defending champion Adam Scott of Australia, ranked sixth in the world, world number four Ernie Els of South Africa and Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju, ninth in the world, in the Barclays Singapore Open, Asia’s richest national Open.

Other big guns who have been attracted to the Barclays Singapore Open include Fijian star Vijay Singh, reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina, American Charles Howell III, Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke and nine of the top-10 players from the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit led by current number one Liang Wen-chong of China, who finished fourth in last year’s event.

After a mixed season which included three wins on the US PGA Tour but blighted by a wrist injury which ruined his chances of increasing his Major haul of three wins, Mickelson is looking forward to his rare foray outside the US especially when he also has relatively new irons in his golf bag.

“The last three weeks have given me a chance to work on some of the things that I want to have in place for next year and it’s starting to feel pretty good. I am looking forward to putting it in play. This will be the first week where I feel comfortable with the last of our changes (with coach Butch Harmon). I’m anxious and curious to see how I strike it this week,” said Mickelson, who has won 32 times in the US.

“I am so excited about them (the new irons). I spent the last four or five weeks practising with them, getting the yardages dialled in. I’m excited about the trajectory as it’s a more penetrating flight. I expect my iron play to be as good as it’s ever been.

“I was able to spend some time on the greens today. I think the greens will be the trickiest part as they are grainy Bermuda but they are no more challenging than what we see on Tour on the Florida swing. Although they’ll be challenging, it’ll be fun to come out here and see the golf course and put in a bit of work. I’m looking forward to the week,” added the lefthander.

Fiji’s Singh is delighted to return to Singapore, six years after he won the Singapore Masters. He will be gunning for a second straight national Open after winning the Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open earlier this month on the Asian Tour, which was his 53rd international victory of his illustrious career.

“I like playing in Asia. I was in Johor (Malaysia) for a while when I was (living) in Asia so Singapore is very familiar with me. You know the last outing I had over here, I won, so good memories when I came back here. I played the course for the first time yesterday so it was an experience. It takes the drivers out of your hand. It’s pretty tight and the rough is up. I’d rather be going with a long iron rather than a middle iron from a fairway than miss the fairway with the driver and have a difficult shot to the greens,” said Singh.

Singh, a former world number one but now ranked 13th, has won twice this season in the US but, by his own admission, he is disappointed with his inconsistent play, which has resulted in him slipping out of the world’s top-10.

“Last tournament I won was in Korea so I have lots of confidence. I changed my swing a little bit, that was a good start you know, knowing that it works. I’ve been building on that and I feel good about it and my chances here. I have full confidence that I may win,” said the 44 year old.

Singh was pleased to see how the Asian Tour has grown in recent years where this season, it will offer a record 28 events with over US$27 million in prize money. “I think Asian golfers have improved compared to the last three years but I think the whole world of golf has improved as well. You are seeing young kids coming up but you need to see more of that,” he said.

October 30, 2007

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