Singh: Asia can deliver Major winner

The search for a first homebred Major champion from Asia is just around the corner, says Indian star Jeev Milkha Singh.

The reigning Asian Tour number one is competing in his maiden Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club this week and feels the long wait could be over in the near future.

"I think the time is getting closer for an Asian to win a Major," said Singh on the eve of the year's first Major.

"For an Asian Tour player to win, I don't see that as being too far away. It's basically your mind set, you have to believe in yourself when you're playing out there and if you keep believing in yourself you'll be as good as anybody else.

"Golf is a global sport now, that's great to see. It's good as the Asians will know that we can play against the best. We are good enough to play in big events and we're going to see a lot more talent coming through."

Chinese Taipei's "Mr" Lu Liang-huan came close when he finished second behind Lee Trevino in the 1971 British Open while Korea's K.J. Choi enjoyed a third place finish at the 2004 Masters.

With the Asian Tour maintaining its growth with a record Schedule of over US$27 million on offer this season, Singh believes the number of talent coming through will one day yield a Major triumph.

The Indian stalwart, who inherited his sporting genes from his father who was an Olympic sprinter, said Asian players were not inferior to any of the global's elite when it comes to golfing abilities.

"There's not much difference between the players," said Singh, who enjoyed four wins on three different Tours last year and was the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit winner.

"We need to handle the golf courses better. American courses are a bit different from the golf we play in Asia. We normally dart every shot at the flags but in America, if you miss on the wrong side, you've got no shot.

"You have to learn to hold back on some shots and play for the middle of the green and just two putt. If you one putt, that's good," said Singh, who will be joined at the Masters by Choi and his compatriot Yang Yong-eun.

As the first Indian at the Masters, the 35-year-old has been enjoying the spotlight from the international media, featuring in Sports Illustrated and Augusta Chronicle, but come Thursday, he will set aside the attention to focus on his routine and thought process.

"The reception has been excellent. Everyone has been telling me that one billion people from home will be watching me this week and I'm happy about that. I'm proud to be an Indian playing over here. And hopefully I can keep the flag flying," said Singh.

"I'm not going to put any expectations. I'm going to play it one shot at a time and see what comes my way. I've pushed myself quite a bit over the last few weeks and was result oriented.

"This week I'm going to play and treat it as a fun tournament. I will take it as any other event," said Singh.

On Tuesday, he played the back nine of Augusta National for the first time and was amazed by Amen Corner, which consists of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes.

"I was really excited playing the back nine. I've seen the par three 12th hole so many times on TV and with all those flowers at the back of the green there, it's so beautiful. That hole is very tempting as you have to get the distance right. If you miss the distance, you've got a tough second shot coming in.

"I think the 11th is the toughest on the course. At 505 yards, it's a challenging par four and the green that you're hitting into, you don't have any margin for error there."

April 4, 2007

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