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   The talented 23-year-old recorded top-10 finishes at Sentosa Golf Club in 2005 and last year and he is targeting a top-three spot to climb up the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit.

   He knows that a repeat performance will ease some of the strain after an up-and-down season on the Asian and Japan Tours.

   "If I finish in the top three it will make a big difference to my ranking," said Prom,who finished a creditable third in last season's rankings but is currently 25th with US$102,996 in winnings from 11 events.

   Prom scooped US$94,500 after rounds of 72-70-70 saw him finish joint sixth last year following his tied eighth place in 2005 and he realises that the increase of US$1 million in the prize fund could completely change the complexion of the merit race.

   "If I play well in Singapore I could get into the top three, it is a huge incentive," said the burly Prom, whose weight hovers around the 110kg- mark. "I could turn round my whole year."

   Prom said that the revamped Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club does not really suit his game but that straight hitting off the tee kept him in contention in 2005 and last year.

   "I have to admit it is not my favourite course," he revealed. "But I have played well there two times. There is no big secret, you just have to hit it straight with your driver. Both years the conditions were tough with long rough so you had to find the fairway."

   Prom, the son of a golf professional, registered his breakthrough win on the Asian Tour in 2006 with victory in the SK Telecom Open but the expected surge has not materliased this season.

   He has largely split his playing time between the Asian and Japan Tours with occasional forays further afield.

   His best finish was second in the Sega Sammy Cup behind Toru Taniguchi in Japan that earned him a career-high US$130,662 in winnings.

   Prom, whose putting can be patchy, will have to be at the top of his game to maintain his scoring record at the Barclays Singapore Open, widely regarded as the Major of Asia.

   Six players in the world's top 20 will be in the field of dreams including two-time defending champion Adam Scott of Australia, American lefthander Phil Mickelson, last year's runner-up Ernie Els of South Africa, South Korea's Choi Kyung-ju, twice a winner on the US PGA Tour this season, reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Fiji's Vijay Singh.

   China's Liang Wen-chong, currently leading the UBS Order of Merit and the best Asian performer in last year's Barclays Singapore Open, will spearhead the challenge from the Asian Tour.

 

The Barclays Singapore Open

   The Barclays Singapore Open will once again be held on Sentosa's par-71 Serapong championship course from 1-4 November 2007. Leading international and Asian golfers will vie for the US$4 million prize purse, Asia's richest national Open.

    The tournament, which started in 1961, has grown from strength to strength since Sentosa revived it in 2005 after a three-year break. Starting with a prize purse of US$2 million in 2005, it was raised to US$3million in 2006, and will reach US$5 million in 2008.

    Attracting the world's top golfing stars and leading Asian players, the Barclays Singapore Open set its sights on being the 'Major of Asia' and is benchmarked against the highest standards in the world of golf. 

    The Barclays Singapore Open is held on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club. Each year, the course's long rough has proven to be a severe challenge. Nonetheless, Scott has won the tournament for two years running, and he returns to attempt a hat-trick win in 2007. He beat Els by two shots in a three-hole play-off as both stars were tied on 8 under par for a score of 205 last year.

    Star players confirmed for the Barclays Singapore Open 2007 include two-time defending champion Adam Scott , Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, K.J Choi, Vijay Singh, Angel Cabrera, Shingo Katayama, Lee Westwood, Nick O'Hern and Charl Schwartzel.

 Sentosa Golf Club

   One of the region's premier golf clubs, Sentosa Golf Club was opened in 1974 by Singapore's then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Sentosa Golf Club is home to Asia's biggest national open golf championship - the Barclays Singapore Open as well as host to the Asian qualifying rounds of the Open Championship on behalf of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

    In 2006, Sentosa's Serapong course was again voted Best Course in Singapore by readers of Asian Golf Monthly magazine. In addition, Sentosa Golf Club was voted Host Venue of the Year by members of the Asian Tour after hosting a very successful 2006 Barclays Singapore Open.

 Barclays

   Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia.  It is one of the largest financial services companies in the world by market capitalisation.  With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs 123,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 27 million customers and clients worldwide. For further information about Barclays, please visit our website www.barclays.com.  

 Barclays in Singapore

   Barclays is represented in Singapore by three of the Group's businesses; Barclays Capital, Barclays Wealth Management and Barclays Global Investors.  In 2004 the firm opened a global support hub in Singapore, and in 2006 Barclays relocated its bank branch from Capital Square to One Raffles Quay to house its expanding investment banking businesses.

    Barclays has over 2000 employees in Singapore, a greater presence than in any of the 11 other markets in Asia Pacific in which it has offices, underlining its significant investment in and firm commitment to the country.

 About the Asian Tour

   As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia.  This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include UBS (Naming rights sponsor to the UBS Order of Merit and Official Financial Services Provider), Sofitel (Official Hotel), Srixon (Official Ball), Pin High (Official Apparel Partner) and ESPN Star Sports (Official Regional TV Broadcaster). Sentosa, Singapore's premier island resort getaway, is the Home of the Asian Tour.