Sentosa (Singapore), Nov 1 (IANS) No sooner had Ian Poulter etched his name onto the historic Singapore Open trophy, the organisers announced that the Barclays would extend its sponsorship of the signature event till 2012.
The event will carry at least $5 million as prize purse but will have an extended field of 204 players with the golfers going out on two courses, the Serapong and Tanjong courses at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The announcement was made jointly by Barclays, World Sport Group and Sentosa Development Corporation to support “Asia’s Major” until at least 2012.

According to the new arrangement the purse remain at least $5million and the field will be increased from 156 to 204 players, including 75 players from each of the European Tour and Asian Tour; 32 invitees from the region and seven from the SPGA and the SGA.

The event will move to mid-November and will remain co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour.

“This is a fantastic event for Barclays”, said Robert Morrice, Chairman and CEO Asia Pacific, Barclays PLC, “and we are excited about growing the tournament with an increased field of players from around the world as a cornerstone of our brand strategy.”

“The larger field will give more Asian golfers the opportunity to compete at the highest level at a world class event, which can only be good for the further development of golf in this region”, commented Seamus O’Brien, Chairman and CEO of World Sport Group.