First Asian major triumph "going to be soon"

Choi Kyung-ju’s success in America this season has fuelled Asian aspirations to end its barren run in the Majors, Jeev Milkha Singh said today.

Singh, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit champion last season, believes the Korean star’s memorable triumphs in tournaments hosted by golf greats Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods over the last two months have raised expectations on the Asian brigade at this week’s British Open at Carnoustie.

“It’s excellent for Asian golf … what K.J. has done,” said India’s Singh. “He’s contributed a lot on US soil. I feel there are a lot of talent in Asia and more players will keep coming out and leave a mark on the world stage.

“If K.J. can do it, why not us? That’s how I feel. He’s a good player and it’s a big encouragement for the rest of the guys, especially when he had come out from the Asian Tour. We should also be working hard to get there.

“Obviously, the next step is to win a major. It’s a matter of a few years. It’s going to be soon that something big is going to happen from out of Asia.”

Choi cut his professional teeth on the Asian Tour in the 1990s before finding success on the US Tour and has since been regarded as the “Asian most likely to win a Major”. The Korean star’s best appearance in a Major was a third place finish in the US Masters in 2004 while his best outing at the British Open was tied for 16th place at Royal Troon in the same year.

After a stellar 2006 season where he won four titles in Europe, Asia and Japan, Singh harbours dreams of joining Choi full-time in America. The son of an Olympic sprinter, Singh also has Major ambitions and knows he has a great opportunity to do so in Carnoustie.

The Indian is making his British Open debut this week, courtesy of his UBS Order of Merit triumph, and a goal of his will be to contend and improve on his 36th place outing in the US Open last month, which is his best outing in four previous Majors.

“I’m always excited about the Majors. I want to treat it as any other tournament but it’s tough to do that. You always try your best and that’s how I will take it this week,” said Singh, who is ranked 57th in the world.

“I’m pretty excited about being here. I’m happy to be playing in the world’s oldest championship, where golf started from. However, I need to work on a few things with my driver. I was also disappointed with my putting in Loch Lomond last week where I stroked it well but couldn’t get the ball to the hole. After the US Open, I still imagining that I’m on those fast greens but I’m not. Hopefully this week, everything will be fine.”

July 17, 2007

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