Jeev hopes to silence big guns in Singapore Open

Singapore, Sep 5 (UNI) Unshaken by the star-studded field that awaits him in the three million dollar Barclays Singapore Open, Jeev Milkha Singh hopes he has in him to silence the likes of title holder Adam Scott of Australia and three-time major winner Ernie Els of South Africa.

Jeev, the current Asian Tour number one, is not bogged down by the tough conditions at Sentosa Golf Club's par-71 Serapong course either and said, ''It is a fantastic venue especially the way the greens are playing and the way the rough is up.

''I love playing tough courses. I feel comfortable, it is a great test of golf. You have got to drive the ball good and if you land in the rough be strong enough to get it out. The approach is to try to hit as many fairways and greens as possible and be in the last few groups on Sunday, and give it my best shot,'' added the highest ranked Indian golfer.

Jeev is in the middle of a career-defining season, which saw him winning the Volvo China Open in April to end a six-year title drought and posting 11 other top-10s across Asia, Japan and Europe, including a third place finish last weekend in Japan.

And Jeev said he is not losing his sleep over whether he can win the tournament or not.

''When I go into a tournament thinking I am going to win I never do. I just want to follow my routine. I have always liked playing on this golf course, it is one of my favourite in Asia because of the way it is set up. I am leading the Order of Merit which is great but I am not thinking too much about it just yet. I want to go out there and play, give it my best shot and hope the results will follow,'' he said.

Jeev admitted he became a different player with the triumph in China.

''The win gave me a lot of confidence. I was playing well but I was not trusting myself enough when I was in the hunt. After that win, it gave me a lot of confidence and I have started trusting myself especially when the pressure is on,'' said the five-time winner on the Asian Tour.

Jeev, however, refuses to bask in past glory and said, ''Obviously there is room for improvement in certain aspects of the game. I have to keep trying and keep practising. I personally feel I need to work more on my mental side and also on my putting right now. Some weeks things are good, some weeks not so good. You have got to get into a comfort zone where you feel every week from now I can do this I can produce this score - that is where I want to get to. As a professional golfer I try to give it my best effort to get to that position. Only thing I can do is give it and work hard at it.'' UNI XC AY PDS RN1620