India's Jeev Milkha Singh swept to his 6th Asian Tour victory at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore. His final score of seven under par gave him the Barclays Singapore Open title over South African Ernie Els and three time Major winner, Padraig Harrington. Jeev also now tops the Asian Tour Order of Merit from ISM's Mark Brown.
"I could not have asked for more honestly - I think I am a very fortunate man to win, those boys put a good effort out there, Ernie and Padraig. The golfing gods are on my side so I am breathing much better now." said Singh, who won a tournament in Europe and Japan earlier this year.
Starting the final round five strokes back, Singh charged up the leaderboard with an outward 33 and birdied the 11th hole to take control of the tournament. Bogeys on 13 and 16 set up a nailbiting finish but his rivals failed to take advantage of his late blemishes.
"I saw that I had a one-shot lead coming to the last. I was not hitting my driver that well so I took a three wood - at least confirm a five and if you make a four great. I was fortunate the other guys did not make a four. I am happy," said Singh.
Els was one over for the round through 12 but a 20-foot birdie on 16 kept him in the title hunt. However, a poor drive on 18 left him with an outside chance for birdie at the last which he missed from 15 feet.
"I missed a putt on 15, which I thought was going in. Made one on 16 and 17 looked like it was going in but it didn't and 18 was unbelievable. The gods were not with me. They all looked like they were going in," said Els.
Singh is expected to re-enter the world's top-50 with his third win of the season, which will come with an invite back to the US Masters. The Indian, who is already exempt in the other three Majors due to his finish in Europe, is also poised to win the prestigious Asian Tour's Order of Merit where Brown only has a mathematical chance to dislodge him but needs to win the remaining four tournaments of the season.
"It is great. There are too many landmarks! I do not really know what to say. At the end of the day you just want to play good golf and if these things come your way it is fantastic," said the 36-year-old Indian.
It was also a fine week for Northern Ireland's youngster Rory McIlroy who finished in a tie for 4th position on five under par.
