ASEAN Tour granted seven places at Singapore Open

Thailand's Namchok Tantipokhakul and six other leading players from the ASEAN Tour will be granted entry into the lucrative Singapore Open, organisers of the Southeast Asian circuit said on Tuesday.                                           

Namchok qualified for the co-sanctioned event, which last year offered $5 million in prize money, courtesy of winning the 2009 ASEAN Tour order of merit with the six other places being awarded to the top finishers in this year's standings.               

"I am in shock," Namchok said in an ASEAN Tour release. "Last year was a great season for me... but this is an unexpected surprise. I can't wait for the week to come."                                           

Britain's Ian Poulter is scheduled to defend his Singapore Open title at the Sentosa Golf Club from Nov. 11-14.