BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN RELATED STORIES Barclays Singapore Open home page Barclays Singapore Open Preview Round 1: Lam raises local hopes as weather calls a halt Round 1: Zhang enjoys return to Lion City Round 1: Els hits the front in early morning Round 2: Els and Dyson lead as weather strikes again Round 2: McIlroy edges Noh in battle of the teen titans Round 2: Els & Dyson two ahead as second round completed Round 3: Chapchai leads from star-studded chasing pack Round 3: Chapchai in charge by three from Lam Round 4: Jeev holds off major champions for victory Round 4: Lam secures Tour card despite closing 79 Final Scores & Prize Money Asian Tour Order of Merit standings after the Barclays Singapore Open About the course Lahiri gets a slot thanks to Poulter's lost driver Choi tips Noh and Lee for big time In-form Els relishes Singapore swing Adam Scott going for Singapore hat-trick Seven to watch this week Asia's stars tee it up with world's best Harrington looks to Singapore for final 2008 victory Order of Merit chase resumes at Barclays Pornsakon books last Barclays Singapore berth Kiradech wins a place in elite Barclays Singapore field Thai tigers earn their Barclays Singapore stripes Best of Asia headed for Barclays Singapore Open Kiwi Lee gets Barclays Singapore slot Huge field for Barclays Singapore Open qualifying Prom looks for strong return to Sentosa In-form Atwal targets cross-Straits double Mark Brown - What a difference a year makes McIlroy joins Barclays Singapore field in search of maiden title Harrington to play Barclays Singapore Open Big names sign up for $5m Barclays Singapore MORE ASIAN GOLF NEWS Han Will Speak At IHT Sports Summit Volvik Agree With Asian Tour Over Sponsorship Memories Inspire Rai In Singapore Break Gives Mamat Route To Success Singapore Classic Welcomes Kia Motors PGA Malaysia Moves To OneAsia CCM Extends Sponsorship Of Impian Masters Faldo To Play In Pro-Am In Cambodia

McIlroy edges Noh in battle of the teen titans

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has joined the ever-growing fan club of fellow teenager Noh Seung-yul of Korea who has made an instant impression on the Asian Tour during his debut season.

The 19-year-old McIlroy, one of the most promising players in world golf, won the head-to-head battle of the young guns with Noh in the second round with his 68 to Noh's 72, but was quick to acknowledge the Korean's special talent.

"He is a very impressive player," said McIlroy, who finished 36th on the Order of Merit after his first full year on the European Tour.

"He hits it very good. I had not heard much about him before coming here but I had seen his name (on golf websites) and he won three weeks ago and has had a few runners up as well. He is obviously a huge talent and a great player for the future."

Earlier in the week, seven-time US PGA Tour winner K.J. Choi said that his countryman was the "total package" after playing a practice round with him and US Amateur champion Danny Lee, who was born in Korea.

"I was very pleasantly surprised and moved by how good they were," said the player nicknamed "The Tank" because of his muscular physique. "They are still growing and maturing but it seems they have already matured to another level.

"They are the total package and can become stars players on the Asian Tour and around the world. They have the talent level to move to Europe and US. In fact, they motivated me to play a little bit better. They put up a nice challenge to me (in the practice round)."

Noh became the third youngest winner of an Asian Tour event at 17 years and 143 days when he won the Midea China Classic in October.

The 17-year-old, who posted three runner-up finishes in 2008 before his breakthrough, will head to America after the Barclays Singapore Open to tee it up in the Second Stage of Qualifying for the PGA Tour.

McIlroy shot a 68 in the second round to lie two shots behind joint clubhouse leaders Ernie Els and Simon Dyson and immediately expressed his gratitude to the organisers for inviting him to the tournament.

"It is a great opportunity for myself to get an invite to play the Barclays Singapore Open. I am still trying to make my way as a professional, It is a chance to challenge myself against the best players in the world and so far I am doing pretty well. It is great to be in such great company," said McIlroy, who lost a play-off to Jean-Francois Lucquin of France at September's Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

"I will come back to the Barclays Singapore Open, definitely. In the next few years the Asian Tour is going to become so much stronger and I think you will see a lot of European guys and the players from the United States coming here so I will definitely come back."

November 15, 2008