Sentosa, October 27: A continental clash is on the cards at the Barclays Singapore Open with American Phil Mickelson, leading Asian Thongchai Jaidee and European star Soren Kjeldsen playing in one of the feature groups on Thursday.

World number two Mickelson, two-time Asian number one Thongchai and Denmark’s Kjeldsen will tee off their first rounds from the 10th tee at 8.00 am.

Three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington, joint second last year with Ernie Els, will be joined by American Anthony Kang, the winner of this year’s Malaysian Open, and Chinese star Liang Wen-chong, the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit leader in 2007. The trio start on the first tee at 12.50 pm.

South Africa’s Els is out at 8.10am from the 10th with Asian Tour stars Jyoti Randhawa of India and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng.

The 8.20am group from the 10th features the colourful Ian Poulter of England, Asian specialist Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, the winner of last year’s UBS Hong Kong Open.

Korea’s K.J. Choi, winner of the Johor Open last weekend, features in the next group out from the 10th at 8.30am. He will play alongside former European number one Justin Rose of England and local hero Mardan Mamat, the 2006 Singapore Masters champion.