Els, Harrington hope to make up for previous miss in Singapore

SENTOSA - Jeev Milkha Singh, the defending champion, is not here but the pair Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington whom he beat in a nerve-tingling finish last year are back aiming for glory this time at the star-studded $5 million Barclays Singapore Open golf.

Three-time major champions Harrington and Els are aiming to go one better in this week after having missed make-able birdie putts on the final hole that would have forced a play-off with champion Jeev.

Harrington and Els, ranked sixth and 22nd in the world, will be up against fellow Major winners Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy and Michael Campbell in the tournament, which is being joint-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour for the first time.

With 118 winners from the two Tours competing at the Sentosa Golf Clubs Serapong Course starting from Thursday, this may well be one of the most successful fields ever in golf.

Harrington, who also tied second with Els in August at The Barclays in New York, is targeting a victory to kick-start his bid to win the Race to Dubai.

I came very close last year and had it to win at the end but it wasnt to be. I think every fairway I have walked down this week the ball spotters have all reminded me that I hit it into the water on 16! I had forgotten that - I could only remember three-putting the last, said Harrington.

But these things happen and although it is a slightly different golf course this year I hope I will be there or thereabouts come Sunday and I can make the right things happen coming down the stretch, he said.