Sentosa, November 11: Padraig Harrington of Ireland, a double Major winner
in 2008, wants to win the US$5 million Barclays Singapore Open to round off
the best season of his career.

Harrington, winner of three of the last six Majors including the British
Open and US PGA Championship back-to-back this year, rarely predicts a good
showing but he made an exception at Tuesday's press conference at Sentosa
Golf Club after talking about his lack of confidence.

"I am very focused on trying to get one last win for the year – so there I
have said it. Get one last win for the year is what I am focused on, just to
put the icing on the cake for my Christmas," said Harrington, one of the
most popular players in world golf.

The world number five added that the world rankings were becoming
increasingly important and the Barclays Singapore Open ensured there were
good rewards.

A world-class field has assembled at Sentosa, Home of the Asian Tour, which
includes world number three Phil Mickeson, twice Singapore Open champion
Adam Scott, Ernie Els, Ian Poulter, K.J. Choi, Darren Clarke and Oliver
Wilson.

Eighteen of the top-20 players on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit, including
the last six Merit winners, are in this week's field as well.

"This tournament is very important. You have got a very strong field. There
are rewards this week, you get good world ranking points. A big element to
the game at the moment is the world ranking," said Harrington.

"Barclays have brought a good field here and the players know that if they
win they will be rewarded in the world rankings. So that is a big thing.
It's also my last tournament of the year and you always want to finish well.
My expectations are very high."

With his busy playing schedule, Harrington has yet to truly savour his
bumper season but looked back at the past six months with great pride. "It's
been unbelievable. I started out the year and played nicely but didn't get
the results. Then I have the two big results in the summer which was very
pleasing," said Harrington.

"My season will go down as the best of my career so far, and one to
remember. I do believe that I can win more majors."

Mickelson, who dropped to world number three after Sergio Garcia won in
Shanghai on Monday, downplayed the importance of the rankings but
highlighted his desire to do well over the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf
Club where he finished 23rd last year after being affected by the high heat
and humidity.

He said that he had also come prepared this year for the grain on the
Serapong greens by bringing a different putter.

"The conditions last year were different to what I thought they were going
to be, with the greens being very difficult, very grainy. I needed to make
an adjustment in my putter and get a little bit more loft and get it on top
of the grass so that it would start online easier," said Mickelson, who
needs to win this week to regain his world number two ranking.

"So I have brought a putter with a little more loft on it and that will
hopefully combat some of the grains on the greens. I think that will be the
biggest challenge because the golf course tee to green is one of the most
challenging tests of golf that you can play anywhere. But the greens are
very difficult to putt but if you read them well and putt them well there is
a very good chance that the player will win it."

Mickelson, who has won twice on the PGA Tour this season, said that he
enjoyed his maiden trip to Singapore last year and was happy to be back in
the Lion City. "I have been looking forward to coming back – I think that
Singapore is one of the most amazing success stories throughout the world,"
he added. "The golf course is terrific and I am proud to be associated with
Barclays and the Barclays Singapore Open which has now become the premier
event on the Asian Tour.

"I didn't play as well as I would have liked to here last year. But now, I
have been over in Asia over a week now and I've acclimatised to the time
change and my game is sharp and ready. I like to improve on last year's
performance."

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, a two-time Asian Tour number one, will amongst
the region's finest looking to wrest the Barclays Singapore Open title.

"It's a big week, big tournament with world class stars. It's very good for
the Asian Tour and Singapore," said Thongchai. "I always enjoying playing
alongside big stars. It raises my game."

Injuries and illness blighted the front half of Thongchai's season but now
that he is fully fit and refreshed after enjoying a week's break where he
celebrated his 39th birthday, the Thai hopes to end his two-year title
drought.

"I didn't play any golf for three days last week. I'm relaxed coming here.
This week is important and I've got two more months to go before the year is
up. I'm trying to win a tournament. I always feel I have a chance," said
Thongchai.