Jeev is tipping Liang for Order of Merit

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh has tipped China’s Liang Wen-chong to succeed him as the new Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit champion.

The Asian Tour resumes its second half of the season next week with the staging of the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia and Liang will be keen to build on his lead over South African Anton Haig in the merit race.

The 29-year-old Liang has enjoyed a stellar season with one victory and six other top-10s, pushing him towards the dream of becoming first player from China to lift the prestigious UBS Order of Merit title.

Singh, last year’s number one after a record-breaking 2006, has played primarily in the United States and Europe this season but he has kept a close eye on the race for Asian Tour supremacy.

“It’s been a fantastic season for Liang so far,” said Singh. “I’ve played enough golf with Liang to know that he’s a really hard worker of the game. He deserves the success that he’s getting this season and I’m sure he’ll be playing well towards the end of the year.

“However, he’ll certainly have stiff competition from Anton who is another good young player. Anton seems to have found his form again which is good and I wish them both the best of luck. May the best man prevail.”

Liang will compete the US$300,000 Iskandar Johor Open, an event backed by the Iskandar Region Development Authority, and the following week’s Brunei Open where he intends to capitalise on Haig’s absence from these events.

So far, the Chinese star has amassed US$438,252 in earnings, with Haig, winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, winning US$427,685.

Singh said: “There will be some big money tournaments at the end of the year and these would be the ones that could well decide on who becomes number one. It will be an interesting race.”

Liang has made it clear that his primary goal is to capture the UBS Order of Merit title. “I will play more on the Asian Tour and aim to finish the year as number one. I think it’ll be quite special as no Chinese player has done it before,” said Liang.

“I’ll take it step by step. Hopefully, I can win the UBS Order of Merit and then next year, I hope to play in more Majors and play more in Europe to test my game. If I can break into the world’s top-50, it will be good as I can gain exemption into the Majors,” added Liang, who competed in last week’s PGA Championship in what was his Major debut.

Australia’s Scott Hend, back in form after a serious hand injury had curtailed his career in the US, is ranked third behind Liang and Haig but he feels that the Chinese has the upperhand.

“It could come down to the smallest of margins at the end of year,” predicted Hend, who spent two seasons on the US Tour. “(But) Liang is going to be hard to beat. His record this year is nothing but solid.”

The fourth-ranked Chapchai Nirat reckons the UBS Order of Merit race is still wide open. “All the top-five players on the ranking right now have got a good chance to win as there are some big-money events later this year. After our summer break, every one will be eager to play in tournaments and fight for the top spot,” said Chapchai, winner of this season’s TCL Classic in China.

August 16, 2007

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