Singh aiming for third Volvo victory

Jeev Milkha Singh, currently the hottest player on planet golf, hopes to add another ‘V’ to his 2006 Vintage Collection at next week’s Volvo Masters of Asia.

The high-flying Indian, who is assured of a spot in next April’s US Masters after breaking into the world’s top-50 with victory in the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup in Japan last Sunday, has already won the Volvo China Open and the Volvo Masters in a quite brilliant season and would love to complete the hat-trick at Thai Country Club from December 14-17.

“So far there have been two Vs and hopefully (by next week) there will be three Vs,” said Singh of his two Volvo victories. “That would be something special. That would be a treat for the year end, my Christmas gift.

“I am looking forward to playing in the Volvo Masters of Asia for sure, especially at Thai Country Club - it is a great venue. I just loved it last year.”

Singh finished tied 40th in last year’s Asian Tour season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia, a second round 79 knocking him right out of contention, but that poor outing has not dampened his enthusiasm for the tournament or the Thai Country Club.

“It is an excellent golf course, definitely one of the best in Thailand. The course is very well kept and last year the rough was up a little. I hope they have even more rough this year because the greens are always great,” said Singh, who will celebrate his 35th birthday on the second day of the Volvo Masters of Asia.

“I was driving the ball very badly last year. I was working on something, kept trying, kept trying, never gave up, but kept missing the fairways. I drove the ball very badly last year. But I am in much better form going into the tournament this year.”

Singh, whose father was a world class sprinter, has proved himself a marathon man in 2006 en route to four tournament victories worldwide, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit title, runner-up spot in the Japan Tour moneylist (excluding money won in overseas events) and a career-high world ranking of 47, which will open the door to golf’s Majors.

Two of the more telling statistics are that the Volvo Masters of Asia will be his 32nd event in 36 weeks starting from the Volvo China Open in April and his 40th tournament in 12 countries during a 2006 golf odyssey that has won him the respect of his peers.

He was a lowly 319th in the world rankings back in April and facing another year of struggle before a remarkable turnaround in his form and fortune saw him sweep all before him in Asia, Europe and Japan.

“This year has been excellent. It’s like a dream year,” commented Singh. “With four victories and winning the UBS Order of Merit, it is just perfect for me. I’ve worked hard and won the biggest tournament of my career, the Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain. That was excellent.

“I was glad that I proved something to myself and won on the big stage. I won there and that gave me a lot of trust and satisfaction. I personally feel that Asian players are good enough to win on any Tour in the world right now.”

Singh pinpointed his victory in the Volvo China Open at the Beijing Honghua International Golf Club as the turning point in his year.

“I was playing well but I was putting too much pressure on myself to win,” he said. “I said to myself in the final round in China that I would go out there and if it happens, that’s good, if not there is always another week. I took a relaxed approach and won it.

“Ever since, I have taken on that approach and played well.”

Singh’s countryman, Shiv Kapur, will defend the US$650,000 Volvo Masters of Asia where the top-60 players from the UBS Order of Merit are eligible to compete.

December 8, 2006

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