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GOLF: ASIAN TOUR: SINGH LOOKS FORWARD TO US TRIP AFTER KOREAN SETBACK

/noticias.info/ Two runner-up finishes over the past five weeks may demoralise any other player but not Jeev Milkha Singh.

The Indian star has come agonisingly close to a sixth Asian Tour title in recent times but rather than dwell on the past, Singh has quickly turned his attention to this week’s WGC-CA Championship in Doral and the US Masters next month.

Singh, Asia’s number one in 2006, rose to second place on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit with winnings of US$517,050 and lies approximately US$40,000 behind leader Mark Brown of New Zealand.

While disappointed that he lost to Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland in the third hole of a play-off for the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship in Korea on Sunday, Singh reckons his game is good enough to land a big title.

“I gave it a good effort. I would like to congratulate Graeme for playing excellent golf and I’m looking forward to Doral now because I’m playing well,” said Singh.

“So maybe, there’s something better waiting for me there,” added the Indian, who finished tied 28th in Doral last season.

A world-class field headed by world number one Tiger Woods awaits Singh and fellow Asian Tour compatriots Liang Wen-chong of China, the reigning Order of Merit winner, Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, South African Anton Haig, India’s S.S.P. Chowrasia and Brown.

Liang, Chapchai and Haig gained exemption into the lucrative CA Championship through their top-three finishes in the 2007 Asian Tour’s Order of Merit while Singh, Chowrasia and Brown earned tickets through their current rankings on the European Tour.

The 36-year-old Singh was also the bridesmaid at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open last month, losing to Chile’s Felipe Aguilar with a bogey on his 72nd hole but on Sunday, he looked capable of redeeming himself.

After both players tied on 24-under-par 264, Singh produced some gutsy par-saving putts in the play-off before McDowell delivered the knock-out blow with an immaculate approach for a winning two feet birdie putt after Singh had missed his own birdie chance from six feet in the third extra hole.

“Obviously, you play to win but somebody has to win. The last hole, he hit a great shot in there after I hit a good shot and I think the best man won,” said Singh.

“This week is over, I’ve got to look forward to something better. I gave it 100 per cent, I tried my best.”

Australia’s Kane Webber seems to also be enjoying some of his best form as a tied ninth outing in Korea moved him up by two rungs to sixth place on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

A cheque of US$65,130 took his season’s winnings to US$220,073, which is already a career high for the US-based Webber, who is playing in his third year on the Asian Tour.

“Overall, I’m very pleased. I’ve been playing very solid and giving myself chances. It just hasn’t happened this week but maybe next time,” said Webber, who finished tied third in the previous week’s Maybank Malaysian Open.

“It’s still the early part of the season, but it is always good to get some wins out here and that’s one of my goals.”

Chowrasia, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa are ranked third, fourth and fifth respectively on the latest Asian Tour’s Order of Merit while another Indian, Digvijay Singh, occupy 10th place as Indian players dominate the top-10.

The Asian Tour heads to Thailand for the inaugural US$300,000 Asian Tour International, a full-field Asian Tour event, at Pattana Golf and Sports Resort this week.

ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20
Pos. Player Earnings (US$)
1. Mark BROWN (NZL) 556,233
2. Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 517,050
3. S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 426,260
4. Arjun ATWAL (IND) 419,387
5. Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 256,740
6. Kane WEBBER (AUS) 220,073
7. Scott STRANGE (AUS) 216,185
8. Taichiro KIYOTA (JPN) 189,560
9. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 122,996
10. Digvijay SINGH (IND) 122,666
11. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 110,254
12. Scott BARR (AUS) 108,868
13. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 96,668
14. Gaurav GHEI (IND) 96,456
15. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 81,830
16. Adam BLYTH (AUS) 77,400
17. Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 73,349
18. Scott HEND (AUS) 70,033
19. LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 65,786
20. BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 61,817

About the Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Carlsberg (Official Beer), ESPN Star Sports (Official Regional TV Broadcaster), Pin High (Official Apparel Partner), Sofitel (Official Hotel) and Srixon (Official Ball). Sentosa, Singapore’s premier island resort getaway, is the Home of the Asian Tour. notas_de_prensa_archivo