GOLF SINGAPORE OPEN:IAN POULTER announced his withdrawal from the Singapore Open today after failing to get a replacement driver in time for the tee-off of the Asian Tour event.

The Englishman had his driver stolen during the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last week and would not have received a replacement before the end of the second round tomorrow evening.

As a result, Poulter opted not to play in the €3.9 million event, the richest national open in Asia.

"I am really gutted. I have been thinking about it for four hours and I have decided to withdraw because my new driver will not arrive on time," said Poulter.

"It is disappointing because I did not come all this way not to play. But with so many world ranking points at stake, if I played badly I may have lost ground."

Tournament organisers announced Anirban Lahiri of India will take Poulter's place in the field.

Meanwhile, after a season blighted by injury and illness, Adam Scott is hoping for a return to form when he tees off today attempting to win the title for a third time in four years.

The former world number three has slipped to 17th in the rankings but is on the comeback trail after finishing sixth at last week's HSBC Champions in Shanghai - his first event in eight weeks.

And with victories at the Sentosa Golf Club in 2005 and 2006, the Australian is hoping for more good fortune at Asia's richest national open.

"It certainly has been a happy hunting ground for me here," said the 28-year-old Adelaide native ahead of the lucrative event.

"Whenever you come back to a place you play well at, you get good vibes and I am certainly looking to turn my game around a bit at the moment. Coming back here is a good, positive feeling for me.

"From the first year I felt like the course fitted my eye well. I hit a lot of good shots that first year and ever since then I have played here with a lot of confidence.

"I have always been treated very well here and it's always a good fun time."

It has not been the happiest of seasons so far for Scott, who has been sidelined for a large part of the year.

"I have also had some health issues so I made sure I got them sorted out before I played again," he explained.

"I had a few bouts of recurring tonsillitis this year which came from being run down a little bit.

"I also broke my hand so haven't practised since the Players' Championship. It started showing up in my results.

"It was frustrating because I wanted to play but I wasn't prepared how I normally would be."

Scott can draw a lot of positives from his performance in Shanghai last week, where he finished just four shots out of the play-off.

"Last week was my first hit for seven or eight weeks," he said.

"It was certainly a little rusty but I was pretty happy with my result. Finishing sixth was not too bad and it was the first time I have put some consistent numbers on the board. I'm feeling pretty good about things."

South Africa's Ernie Els will be hoping to shake off the disappointment of contrasting failures he suffered in the previous two years when he takes a third tilt at the title.

The world number 11 enjoyed a morale-boosting victory in Morocco last week and the 39-year-old will want to carry that form forward to the demanding Serapong course layout hosting the richest national open on the Asia Tour.

Teeing off against the best golfers in Asia and a top class line-up including Scott, Phil Mickelson, Pádraig Harrington and KJ Choi, the burly South African will be considered one of the favourites for the €621,910 first prize.

In 2006, Els lost out to Australia's Scott in a playoff but failed to make the cut at last year's tournament, won by Argentina's Angel Cabrera, after suffering from illness during the opening two rounds.

"I've experienced mixed fortunes the last two years," said Els.

"I like this tournament and I like the course at Sentosa Golf Club, so I'm looking forward to teeing it up here again. I've played quite a few tournaments in Asia and believe me, this is the best.

"This whole package and a significant prize fund is what helps attract the quality star players from around the world. I'm happy to be here and I know all these guys are, too."

• Two-time Major champion John Daly will play in next week's Hong Kong Open. The American is targeting the $2.5 million showpiece in an effort to get his career back on track. "I'm looking to play well and get my 2009 season off to a good start," said Daly. "I've been working hard on my game and I had a few good rounds at the end of the US season. I'm looking to gain more consistency." said Daly.

Singapore Open

Course: Serapong at Sentosa GC

Length: 7,319 yards. Par: 71

Prizemoney: €3.9 million, €621,910 for the winner

Field: 150

Defending champion: Angel Cabrera (Argentina)

First played: 1961.

Most wins: Adam Scott (2)

On TV: Live Setanta Golf.

Weather: Overcast and 80F. rainy tomorrow and hotter (85F), thunderstorms expected on Saturday.