New Delhi, Feb. 4: Ace Indian pro Jeev Milkha Singh will be looking to achieve his long-standing target of winning an international tournament on home soil when he tees off at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon for the inaugural $2.1 million Avantha Masters — a tri-sanctioned event between the European Tour, Asian Tour and PGTI — next week.
Jeev, who has the distinction of being the only Indian to win on the three Tours — European, Asian and Japan — has never won an international championship at home.
"I have been close many times, but would like to set the record straight this time. A new tournament like the Avantha Masters is a perfect opportunity to do that," Jeev, who is also aiming to get inside the top-50 world rankings for a direct entry into the Augusta Masters, said on Thursday.
The 37-year-old, who was forced to withdraw from the British Open due to a foot injury, has fully recovered and believes he is now back to his best form.
"Injury is definitely the worst thing that can happen to an active sportsperson, but it is also something that you’ve got to expect and that is why my biggest resolution for 2010 is to try and stay fit and healthy," he said.
However, Jeev will have to overcome a stiff challenge from 2008 Indian Open champion and 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Liang Wen-Chong of China, 11-time Asian Tour winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, 2009 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open winner Marcus Both of Australia, Filipino Angelo Que and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, who is returning to India after establishing a new world 72-hole scoring record with a stunning 32-under 256 at the Sail Open last year.
Other prominent Indians in the hunt include reigning Indian Open champion C. Muniyappa, Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa, 2008 Indian Masters winner S.S.P. Chowrasia and Shiv Kapur, who came within a whisker of winning his first European Tour title at the South Africa Open recently after losing in a play-off to Richie Ramsay.
Age Correspondent