Singh hoping to shine at Fanling despite injury

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh will be taking on a cautious approach at the UBS Hong Kong Open in his bid to secure the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit title.

Singh, who is still suffering from a wrist injury sustained in Japan in September, will have to battle a star-studded lineup at the Hong Kong Golf Club that includes Scottish Ryder Cup player and defending champion Colin Montgomerie, South African Retief Goosen and New Zealander Michael Campbell, both Major champions. The Asian stars in the likes of Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Thongchai Jaidee, India’s Jyoti Randhawa, the Hero Honda Indian Open winner, and Chinese aces Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong will also be striving for success at the US$2 million event.

Singh is still on a high after his superb form this season. He made headlines in Europe with his success at the Volvo Masters in Spain last month which was his second Volvo title this year. The 34-year-old had previously won the Volvo China Open in April. The Indian also leads the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit race with total earnings of US$470,108 and the race could be over if Singh delivers a strong outing this week. Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, who will also be competing this week, is in second on the Order of Merit with US$351,871.

“The Hong Kong Open has a lot of history. I like the golf course here because it is old and has a traditional style but you have to do a lot of course management. I am excited to play here,” said Singh.

“A good finish would be nice out here, but I’m not going to think too much and concentrate on my game. I never set a target before a tournament but instead I always play my game and take it a step at a time and that is what I will be doing here,” he said.

“I am playing well but physically I am not too good. I injured my right wrist at the Acom International in Japan a month and a half ago. I should not have hit a shot but I have been getting a lot of treatment. I’ve spoken to my doctor and my doctor said I need time off, and that is what I can’t do right now.

“I’m in a position to play well and trying to move up to the top-50 in the world but my wrist is not up to the mark,” said Singh, who aims to finish in the top-50 on the world ranking for a spot on the US Masters next April, which is the year’s first Major.

Chinese top golfer Liang, who won two titles on the domestic circuit, is optimistic of his chances for a first title out of China win but he realises that it will need the best out of his game at Fanling.

“A week ago, my wrist was hurting pretty bad. I feel much better and confident now. This is my last big event in 2006 and I want to finish on a big note,” said Liang.

“I hope for a top-10 finish. In order to win, I have to play really well.

“Since turning pro for several years, I feel comfortable playing on the Asian Tour and in Japan. I am married and a father now and feel a lot more mature and I am more used to traveling and playing on different Tours so that has helped,” he added.

Campbell will be taking a more relaxed approach on Wednesday as he prepares for the fiery encounter on the opening day.

“I am little bit tired. But tomorrow is a not a rest day but an opportunity to take a deep breath and relax a little. Then the tournament builds on Thursday and Friday and over the weekend becomes pretty intense,” said Campbell, who admits that the Asian players will pose an equal threat to the title charge in Hong Kong.

“It’s incredible what they have done and all credit to the Asian Tour. The success over the last couple of years has been incredible and it is definitely reaping rewards right now for all the time and effort and money going into their players.

You have to compete and what the Asian Tour did was get a bunch of great tournaments together and have all the Asian players play and then the most important thing they did was invite players like myself and Retief or Montgomerie to come over and play. That is your yardstick and to become a better player you need to compete against the best players in the world,” said Campbell.

The UBS Hong Kong is joint sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.

November 14, 2006