Sentosa, October 27: World number two Phil Mickelson is hoping to carry his impressive late-season form into this week’s US$5 million Barclays Singapore Open, which will bring together the strongest field in Asia this year.

The hugely popular American lefthander regained second spot in the world rankings after his victory over Tiger Woods in the Tour Championship last month and then contributed four and a half points for the triumphant United States team in the Presidents Cup.

He rediscovered his famed putting touch with a sparkling five-under-par 65 in the final round of the Tour Championship for a three-shot triumph over second-placed Woods.

Two-time Masters champion Mickelson faces a formidable field at the Barclays Singapore Open that includes fellow Major winners Padraig Harrington of Ireland, South Africa’s Ernie Els, Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and New Zealander Michael Campbell.

Additionally, there are 10 players in the world’s top-50 and a total of 118 winners from the Asian Tour and European Tour, who are co-sanctioning Asia’s richest national Open for the first time

“For me it is to finish the year strong and continue the play I have had in my last two events. I want to carry that play over into Asia,” said Mickelson in a press conference today.

Mickelson is making his third appearance at the Sentosa Golf Club where his charisma lit up the tournament in 2007 and last year, when he finished ninth after playing his way into the final group on Sunday. He believes that a third visit could prove to be lucky.

“Now that I have played here a few times, I have learned the nuances of the golf course. I think Sentosa is an amazing development. It is a championship calibre layout. I needed to know certain areas better. After playing for two years I think I am starting to know the course more and more,” said the man nicknamed “Leftie”.
He credited his superb putting for his late season form. “I think the biggest change is with the putter. I have not had the scores or the results as my performance on the greens has been bad over the past two years. I have had good weeks in there where I have won some tournaments but I have not been consistently at a high level. Working with Dave Stockton has got me back the way I have always putted. I had slowly gravitated away from some of the techniques and feel I have grown up playing. He has reaffirmed all I believe in my short game. Hearing it from a guy has won two PGA Championships had validated what I knew,” said Mickelson.
Scott, back-to-back champion in 2005 and 2006, will be hoping that a return to the scene of his famous wins will provide a boost to his form. He has slipped down the world rankings to 76th after a poor run of form on the PGA Tour this season.

“I am excited about coming here and it is a nice feeling to come to a place where I have played so many good shots before. I walk on so many of the holes here and remember the good shots and the putts that I have made and this week is an opportunity to use that to my advantage and to play well and have a good week. There is no reason why I can’t get into a position to contend here. Everything feels like it is good shape and I just have to hope that it comes around,” said Scott.

Scott possesses one of the purest swings in golf and thrilled the Singapore galleries with a seven-stroke victory over England’s Lee Westwood in 2005. The following year, he added to his popularity and reputation by beating South Africa’s Els in a three-hole play-off.

Scott has won six times on the PGA Tour, his last victory coming at the 2008 Byron Nelson Championship, and he also won the Qatar Masters on the European Tour last year.

But his form has dipped over the past 12 months which he is hopeful of turning the corner. “My ball-striking wasn’t as good (as several years ago) and I have been trying to change some things in my swing. I am just trying to get the club back to where it was on the plane. That hasn’t been right which has affected the confidence. With pretty low confidence and then playing the tough golf courses that we have to play I have certainly been beaten up a little bit this year,” said Scott.

“It’s a tough game and a game of confidence and I know from past experience that you can win a tournament one week and then feel invincible the next. A win suddenly would certainly boost the confidence.”