Singh edges Harrington and Els to claim Barclays Singappore Open

11/17/2008

India's Jeev Milkha Singh closed with a 2-under 69 Sunday to win the $5 million Barclays Singapore Open by one stroke ahead Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington

Singh, who was five shots off the pace after the third round was completed earlier Sunday, finished at 7-under 277. Els shot 71 and Harrington closed with a 70.

Champchai Nirat of Thailand, who led going into the final round, had a 78 and finished at 3 under to share seventh place with Thomas Bjorn.

Phil Mickelson, ranked No. 3 in the world, shot 75 and finished ninth.

Singh was counting his blessings after claiming his thrilling victory. The Indian ace carried a narrow one-shot edge into the final hole at the end of a tense final round at Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong Course, but squandered his opportunity to secure the win when his 12-foot birdie attempt curled just past the hole.

Harrington, the winner of two majors this season, did not want to make too much of the costly hole, which resulted in his only dropped shots of they day.

Els, who began the day a shot ahead of Singh, had a frustrating day with only one birdie, an 18-footer on the 16th.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and David Gleeson of Australia carded 69s to finish tied for fourth on 5 under with Charlie Wi (72) a further shot back on 4 under.

Nirat struggled to a closing 78 to finish in a tie for seventh with Bjorn (74) on 3 under, one shot ahead of Phil Mickelson, who was alone in ninth on 2 under.

Leaderboard – Final:

1.   Jeev Milkha Singh             IND  73 68 67 69 277 - 7
2.   Ernie Els                           SAF  66 70 71 71 278 - 6
      Padraig Harrington            IRL  72 70 66 70 278 - 6
4.   David Gleeson                  AUS  72 67 71 69 279 - 5
      Rory McIlroy                     NIR  70 68 72 69 279 - 5
6.   Charlie Wi                       KOR  70 71 67 72 280 - 4
7.   Thomas Bjorn                   DEN  72 67 68 74 281 - 3
      Chapchai Nirat                  THA  70 68 65 78 281 - 3
9.   Phil Mickelson                   USA  73 68 66 75 282 - 2
10. Mitchell Brown                   AUS  70 70 71 72 283 - 1
      Simon Dyson                    ENG  69 67 71 76 283 - 1
      Somkiat Srisanga             THA  71 71 70 71 283 - 1

Source: AP, Asian Tour