Jeev, Shiv to tee off in Asian Open

Shanghai, Apr 18 (UNI) Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit leader Jeev Milkha Singh and talented Shiv Kapur will spearhead the Indian challenge in the 1.8 million dollar BMW Asian Open at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club here on Thursday.

Apart from them, four other Indians -- Rahil Gangjee, Gaurav Ghei, Harmeet Kahlon and Amandeep Johl -- will also be in the fray.

Jeev will be eyeing a difficult back-to-back success here after his triumph at the 1.8 million-dollar Volvo China Open which saw him leap from 319th to 195th in the latest rankings.

Shiv Kapur, on the other hand, is looking to make amends after he failed to make the cut in China Open.

Swedish sensation and World No 15 Henrik Stenson and Scotsman Colin Montgomerie will feature in the tournament as firm favourites, being the highest two ranked players in the elite field.

Montgomerie, the UBS Hong Kong Open champion, is one rung below Stenson in the world ranking.

Leading the Asian challenge will be Thai stalwarts Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant as well as Chinese top duo Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong.

Other big-name players chasing for the first prize of 300,000 dollar include England's Paul Casey, who has tasted two victories previously in China, and England's six-time major winner Nick Faldo.

English duo Luke Donald and David Howell, however, pulled out with injuries.

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