Vijay praises growth of Asian golf

Fijian star Vijay Singh has hailed the growth of the game in Asia as he prepares for a trip down memory lane next week.

The three-time Major champion will be amongst a galaxy of stars who will headline the Asian Tour’s US$4 million Barclays Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club from November 1-4 in Singapore, a country he last visited six years ago.

Singh has his golfing roots firmly planted in Asia and while he will be searching for a fourth title of the year, the towering Fijian is also looking forward to renewing old ties.

“The game in Asia is growing ever stronger. Asian players have taken giant steps forward in the game and more young kids here are picking up the sport. The depth of the game in Asia has definitely improved as compared to before,” said Singh, the world’s number 12.

Singh used Asia as the launchpad to a glittering career which has now yielded 53 international wins, including 31 titles on the US Tour. During his early years, he befriended fellow golfing aspirant Kyi Hla Han of Myanmar, the 1999 Asian Tour number one and now the Tour’s Executive Chairman.

“Kyi Hla is a good friend of mine. I’ve known him for a long time as we go back many years. It’s good to see the Asian Tour growing and I have a lot of good memories playing in Asia,” he said.

The Barclays Singapore Open, the flagship tournament on the Asian Tour, has attracted a wonderful field which includes two-time defending champion Adam Scott of Australia, world number two Phil Mickelson of the United States, South African star Ernie Els, US Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina and Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju, the highest ranked Asian at ninth in the world.

Other top names in the field include Europe’s Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, Australian Nick O’Hern and American Charles Howell III.

Choi, Singh said, is Asia’s best bet to end its drought in the Majors although many golf followers in the region have embraced the Fijian as one of their own due to his close affinity to Asia.

His advice to young hopefuls eager to take on the world is simple - hard work.

“In golf, you can play anywhere including Asia. There is no recipe to make it to the top. Like the saying goes, you find it in the dirt and work your way from there. I think KJ (Choi) is the leading Asian player who is most likely to win a Major,” said Singh, who is known for belting balls at the practice range from dawn till dusk.

Singh will fly into the Barclays Singapore Open refreshed after enjoying a break from Tour life following his victory in the Korean Open earlier this month on the Asian Tour. When he walks through the arrival gate at Singapore’s Changi airport, he will be reminded that the last time he left the Lion City was with a winner’s trophy firmly in his grasp following his triumph in the Singapore Masters in 2001.

“It is always nice to return to a place where you have won previously. I haven’t been back to Singapore since 2001 so I’m looking forward to the return. There is a great field in Singapore and it will be an entertaining week where the quality of the game will be at its best.

“I have not played at Sentosa Golf Club but I heard that the course is really nice and challenging,” he said.

The leading Asian Tour stars tipped to pose a strong challenge include Chinese number one Liang Wen-chong, South African Anton Haig and big-hitting Australian Scott Hend, the top three-ranked players from the UBS Order of Merit.

Other top names who will battle the world’s best golfers in Sentosa include Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat and Thaworn Wiratchant, who is a former Singapore Open champion, India’s Gaurav Ghei and Shiv Kapur and local hero Mardan Mamat.

The Asian Tour will stage an all-time high 28 tournaments offering an unprecedented US$27 million in prize money this season.

October 24, 2007

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