Fuente: © Asian Tour
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ASIAN TOUR: SINGH SHOOTS TO THE TOP OF UBS ORDER OF MERIT

/noticias.info/ Kuala Lumpur, April 18: India's Jeev Milkha Singh won't be blamed if he feels like a million dollars.

Victory at the Volvo China Open in Beijing on Sunday not only shot him to the top of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, but it also made him the 10th player to join the million-dollar club in career earnings in the region.

The tenacious Indian fought tooth and nail to end a frustrating seven-year title drought which was blighted by injuries but he proved the old adage that hard work and perseverance do pay off handsomely.

With a golden Chinese jacket on his shoulders and a US$300,000 cheque to go with, Singh leapfrogged to the summit of the UBS Order of Merit with winnings of US$373,101, over US$86,000 ahead of second-placed Charlie Wi of Korea, who settled for tied 51st place in China.

Previous merit leader Andrew Buckle of Australia slipped to third on the rankings after missing the halfway cut while compatriot Jarrod Lyle was one of the significant movers, jumping from 26th to 11th place after a tied fourth finish earned him US$70,830 and raised his season's tally to US$114,115.

The 34-year-old Singh, who has earned a career US$1.06 million, is the third Indian after Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa to hit seven figures in total winnings on the Asian Tour. And many expect more success to follow Singh after his maiden European Tour title in the co-sanctioned event last weekend.

He is one of India's pioneering professionals who made a big headway on the international scene, becoming the first player from his country to earn a European Tour card in 1997. During that spell, Singh won four Asian Tour titles but a wrist injury pulled the brakes on his career.

After a slow recovery, he started working his game with childhood friend and playing professional Amritinder Singh. Jeev also started reading books about positive mindset but it was "reverse psychology" which drove him to success.

"I just went in there (the final round) with reverse psychology thinking that if it doesn't happen, never mind. I just wanted to give it my best shot. And it worked out perfect for me.

"When I was injured, I didn't know if I was going to come back in the sport. When I came back I wasn't thinking the same way. I was struggling, I was putting pressure on myself and I was getting down. And after that, you don't think right. I started working hard and the wrist became better and things started looking better for me. I've just won and it's one of the best feelings," said Singh.

With playing rights now in Europe and Asia, as well as in Japan where he has plied his trade regularly over the last few years, Singh is targeting more big prizes, including a victory on the US PGA Tour.

Singh, the first Indian to qualify and play four rounds at the 2002 US Open, came close to earning his card on the US circuit that same year but a final round 77 in Qualifying School dashed his dreams when an even par round would have seen safely him through.

"I would be happy if I can win on the US Tour and then from there onwards, we'll have better targets set. That'll be my goal," said Singh.

He knows he can't rest on his laurels, especially with his father, Milkha Singh, who was an Olympic runner, set to push him along. Asked if he'll be a hero in India now, Singh said: "I hope so but I think my dad is still a bigger hero."

"My dad has been a true sportsman and he's been a big support in my life. He's the man who speaks the way he does and he tells you straight up. He told me "if you want to take up the sport (golf), you might as well give it your best to be the best. He would be proud of me but I'm sure he'd expect more from me!"

The Asian Tour remains in China this week for the co-sanctioned BMW Asian Open at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

UBS ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20
Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)
1. Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 373,101
2. Charlie WI (KOR) 286,711
3. Andrew BUCKLE (AUS) 280,212
4. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 217,222
5. Simon DYSON (ENG) 204,825
6. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 177,777
7. Mardan MAMAT (SIN) 174,382
8. Tadahiro TAKAYAMA (JPN) 173,460
9. WANG Ter-chang (TPE) 141,788
10. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 114,117
11. Jarrod LYLE (AUS) 114,115
12. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 106,324
13. Scott STRANGE (AUS) 103,842
14. Kiyoshi MIYAZATO (JPN) 86,730
15. Thammanoon SRIROT (THA) 72,875
16. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 68,175
17. Gaurav GHEI (IND) 67,164
18. LU Wen-teh (TPE) 63,580
19. Unho PARK (AUS) 62,777
20. Amandeep JOHL (IND) 60,169 notas_de_prensa_archivo