SOME of the world's top golfers will be praying for rain at the US$5 million Barclays Singapore Open, which tees off on Thursday at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The intimidating Serapong course, with its thicker roughs and faster greens this year, is expected to provide a stiff test for the likes of Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, KJ Choi and Adam Scott.

But any downpour will soften the greens and slow down the balls, making life much easier for the elite field at Asia's richest national Open.

Said Scott, the 2005 and 2006 winner: 'If it rains a lot, it's going to be easier. The softer a golf course plays, the easier it is for us, no matter how long or how thick the rough.'

'But if this course were to play firm, without the rain, I think it would be the toughest set up with the shaved down areas around the greens, and the firmer greens.'

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han is expecting regional players to whip up a strong challenge.

'The Barclays Singapore Open is a gathering of not only the world's best players but also the finest from the Asian Tour,' he said.

'This will ensure a great week of golf which will showcase Asia's strength in depth.'

The cream of Asian golf are determined to make a name for themselves at the cash-rich Singapore Open this week, with the race to end the season as the region's number one also a key motivator.

The Asian Tour is well represented here with six recent Order of Merit champions in the field and 18 of the current top 20 competing alongside players of the calibre of Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els.

Asia has not celebrated a home triumph in Singapore since the event was revived in 2005, with Thailand's evergreen Thaworn Wiratchant being the last Asian winner in 2001.

Reigning Asian Tour number one Liang Wen-chong leads the cast alongside former Order of Merit champions India's Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa, Thaworn and his compatriot Thongchai Jaidee.

Other leading names tipped to mount strong title challenges include Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and India's S.S.P. Chowrasia.

The champion takes home US$792,500, and the runner-up, US$542,500.