An eclectic mix of golfers from over 23 countries, including India's seasoned S.S.P. Chawrasia and veteran Jeev Milkha Singh, will feature in the inaugural World Classic Championship which gets underway at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club next week.
The Asian Tour's only stop in Singapore this season will see an elite 144-man field battle it out for a share of the $750,000 prize fund on the challenging World Classic course, also known as Asia's Toughest Test, from November 12 to 15, according to a release on Wednesday.
No fewer than 35 Asian Tour winners, including four Order of Merit champions, will headline the Singapore tournament whose television highlights will be beamed around the world by Asian Tour Media.
Reigning Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States has confirmed his participation for the World Classic Championship along with Australian Scott Hend, who is ranked second on the current Order of Merit, and Thai veteran star Thaworn Wiratchant, who has an unprecedented 18 victories on the region's premier Tour.
India's Chawrasia, Canadian Richard T. Lee, American Paul Peterson and Malaysia's Danny Chia, all placed inside the top-10 on the Merit list, will face off against a strong local challenge spearheaded by Mardan Mamat, who claimed his fifth Asian Tour victory in Bangladesh in May.
Chawrasia, ranked fourth on the money list, is looking forward to the World Classic Championship. "We played at Laguna last year and I had a look at the course. It looks very tricky. Everybody says it is very challenging. You need to know the course very well and it is one of a kind but everyone is playing on the same course," he said in a release.
"I've done well this year as you can see from my position on the Order of Merit but it doesn't change anything. In fact, I think it will be more exciting for me to be one of the highest ranked players in the field. My wife will be with me. I'll play golf and she will go shopping! It will be good fun," said the 37-year-old from Kolkata.
Also in the fray are Asian Tour honorary member and Indian veteran Jeev, who will captain Team Asia in the upcoming EurAsia Cup next January, South Korea's Charlie Wi, a former PGA Tour member and a seven-time winner on the Asian Tour, as well as Indian duo Rashid Khan and Gaganjeet Bhullar.
