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Singh likes it tough at Sentosa

It's a case of the tougher the better for India's Jeev Milkha Singh.

The current Asian Tour number one steps into this week's US$3 million Barclays Singapore Open feeling confident of eclipsing the stars who include title holder Adam Scott of Australia and three-time major winner Ernie Els of South Africa.

"It is a fantastic venue especially the way the greens are playing and the way the rough is up," said Singh of the Sentosa Golf Club's par-71 Serapong course.

"I love playing tough courses. I feel comfortable, it is a great test of golf. You have got to drive the ball good and if you land in the rough be strong enough to get it out. The approach is to try to hit as many fairways and greens as possible and be in the last few groups on Sunday, and give it my best shot," added the in-form Indian star.

The talented Singh is enjoying a career-defining season, winning the Volvo China Open in April to end a six-year title drought and posting 11 other top-10s across Asia, Japan and Europe, including a third place finish last weekend in Japan.

It would mean a great deal for Singh to shine this week at Sentosa and silence the big guns. "When I go into a tournament thinking I am going to win I never do. I just want to follow my routine.

"I have always liked playing on this golf course, it is one of my favourite in Asia because of the way it is set up. I am leading the Order of Merit which is great but I am not thinking too much about it just yet. I want to go out there and play, give it my best shot and hope the results will follow," said Singh, who has won US$441,758 this season.

The son of an Olympic runner, Singh added that his triumph in China provided the missing ingredient in his game. "The win gave me a lot of confidence. I was playing well but I was not trusting myself enough when I was in the hunt. After that win, it gave me a lot of confidence and I have started trusting myself especially when the pressure is on," said the five-time winner on the Asian Tour.

"The times when I needed to pull some shots off, I do pull them off and that is why I think this year is going really well. Hopefully, I can keep it going. I am really happy, it is personal satisfaction more than anything else.

"The game is good. Obviously there is room for improvement in certain aspects of the game. I have to keep trying and keep practising. I personally feel I need to work more on my mental side and also on my putting right now. Some weeks things are good, some weeks not so good. You have got to get into a comfort zone where you feel every week from now I can do this I can produce this score - that is where I want to get to. As a professional golfer I try to give it my best effort to get to that position. Only thing I can do is give it and work hard at it," he said.

The Barclays Singapore Open, dubbed the Major of Asia, will also feature eight of the world's top-50 golfers including Shingo Katayama of Japan, England's Lee Westwood, Argentinean Angel Cabrera, 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell, Nick O'Hern of Australia, South African Tim Clark, the seventh-ranked Els and world number six Scott.

Amongst Asia's best players tipped to challenge for honours include two-time number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, last season's number one Thaworn Wiratchant and India's Jyoti Randhawa.

September 5, 2006