IT IS less than a month before the Barclays Singapore Open tees off at Sentosa's Serapong course, and we are still awaiting news on more of the big names coming for the event.

It has been more than a month since I campaigned for some some colourful players, such as Sergio Garcia and Camilo Villegas, to be sought after, and we haven't heard anything since.

And what about young turks Anthony Kim and Justin Rose? No news yet.

One superstar golfer I had pencilled in then for flying in was two-time British Open winner Padraig Harrington.

And five days after this paper carried an interview (see montage below) with the Major winner where he said that he would play at the Barclays event, the organisers sent out a media release stating that the Irishman would be here next month.

Harrington aside, so far, we know that among the big names coming for the 13 to 16 Nov event are Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Darren Clarke and KJ Choi.

A week prior, these five players with the exception of Clarke will be joined in Shanghai for the HSBC Champions event by Garcia, Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen, Paul Casey, Trevor Immelman and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Obviously, there seems to be a stronger field for the HSBC event.

And when you consider that last year, world No. 3 Vijay Singh also played at the Singapore Open, you wonder whether enough has been done to justify the extra US$1 million (from $4 million to $5 million) on offer for the Sentosa event.

Three weeks ago, Fijian megastar Vijay said that he was pulling out of the Shanghai event because of injury.

He also said that he is forced to withdraw from next month's Iskandar event in Johor Baru, for which he had committed himself, but never said that he would cross the Causeway for the Singapore Open.

What a shame?

The organisers however, have said, that Australian Nick O'Hern would be playing here again.

'Nick who?' one may be tempted to ask.

But for the organisers he seems to be a big name.

So they have arranged for a teleconference call with him for today.

Claim to fame

Big deal? No disrespect to O'Hern, whose biggest claim to fame is beating Tiger Woods in matchplay more than once, but, remember, he is ranked 73rd in the world.

The Barclays Singapore Open is labelled the 'Major of Asia'.

So shouldn't the organisers also court those going for the HSBC Champions?

In that light, my appeal to the organisers is to source for some more big names.

And the earlier they release the names, the better for the paying public to pencil in the dates in their dairy.

However, much thanks to Padraig. And thanks to Phil and Ernie for bringing some credibility to the 2008 Barclays Singapore Open.

What about Angel Cabrera? Is he coming to defend his title?

Will the organisers let us know soonest, please.