Jeev's Singapore Open title defence gets tougher as Els, Harrington return

Jeev Milkha Singh's title defence just got tougher with Major champions Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els committing for this year's Barclays Singapore Open, where both had finished runners-up last season.

Jeev, currently in Switzerland for the European Masters, will defend his title at the Sentosa Golf Club from October 29 to November 1 in the $5 million tournament which remains the richest national Open in Asia

Korean K J Choi and Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland will add further star appeal to the tournament, which for the first time is being jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour.

Harrington and Els are ranked ninth and 20th in the world respectively, missed easy birdie putts on the final hole of the 2008 Singapore Open that would have forced a play-off with Jeev.

Both golfers have claimed three Majors Championships during their illustrious careers and will be looking to finish one place better this year.