Excited Jeev ready to earn his stripes in Tiger's company

Shanghai, Nov 8 (UNI) Going through a purple patch, Jeev Milkha Singh intends to show his stripes at the five million dollar HSBC Champions starting tomorrow and there will be no better way than to do it in the presence of world number one Tiger Woods.

Jeev, the current Asian Tour number one, has been handed a dream pairing with Woods in the opening two rounds at Sheshan International Golf Club and is relishing at the prospect of going head-to-head with the planet's best player.

''I'm obviously really excited to be paired with Tiger. It's going to be the first time for me that I'm going to play with him and hopefully I can learn something and see how he manages the golf course,'' said the Indian, who will be joined by England's Paul Casey as the third member of the marquee pairing.

''It's going to be an exciting day and I look forward to such a day. I think it's a reward that I'm playing with Tiger with the performances that I've had this year. It's going to be an experience for me. I have a lot of respect for him because I think he's done a lot for the game of golf worldwide,'' he explained.

Jeev's Shanghai showdown with the American superstar, a 12-time Major winner, will be closely watched as the Indian star has been Asia's most in-form player this season. He secured a monumental triumph at the European Tour's season-ending Volvo Masters in Spain a fortnight ago, six months after ending a seven-year winless drought at the co-sanctioned Volvo China Open in Beijing.

That earlier win in April sparked a remarkable turnaround in Jeev's career and he rode on his new-found confidence to post 13 other top-10s on the Asian, Japan and European Tours this year.

With his world ranking shooting up to a career high 73rd position after starting the year at 376th, Jeev is now hoping to break into the top-50 to earn a US Masters invite to go with a British Open appearance already in hand as well.

''I was pretty excited with the win. Obviously, playing the flagship tournament in Europe and winning it, it gives a player a lot of confidence and I think a lot of satisfaction too. If it (moving up the rankings) happens, I'll be very happy, If it doesn't, I've got another week,'' Jeev said.

He believes that Asian golf has made inroads on the international scene in recent times. On the same weekend when Singh won in Spain, Korea's Choi Kyung-ju, who is also featuring in this week's HSBC Champions, won on the US PGA Tour.

''I think 10 years ago, Asian golf is no where near what it is today. I personally feel there is a lot of talent amongst the Asian golfers. The only thing that is lacking I think is our players are a little shy to try the bigger Tours. If they hang around and play the bigger Tours, they are going to prove themselves. They are good enough,'' said the golfer, the first Indian to play on the European Tour in 1998.

''Ten years from now, I feel there should be Asian players playing the big Tours and winning on the big stage. Obviously, playing in big events like this one, Asian players will rub shoulders with the top players in the world and learn from them,'' he said.

UNI XC AY SAM HT1637