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Indian golfing duo ready to take on world in Shenzhen
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-25 09:57 Indian duo Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa are hoping that a strong campaign at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will bring further growth to the game in their country.
Singh and Randhawa will team up for the first time for the 28-team competition at Mission Hills Golf Club from Thursday to Sunday. While Randhawa featured in the team that finished ninth in 2005 for India's best-ever finish, Singh will be making his long-awaited debut and he is gushing with pride at the opportunity to fly his country's flag in China. "We are very excited, we are very strong as a team," said Singh, the Asian Tour's No 1 in 2006 and virtually assured of this season's Order of Merit title after securing victory at the previous week's Barclays Singapore Open. "It's great to have a chance to represent India. Golf in India is growing. If we can make things happen there, it'll be good. We want to try and have a good finish. We have a good chance of doing well." Singh has enjoyed a stellar season with victories in Europe, Japan and Asia which has lifted him back into the world's top-50. With the year coming to a close, he wants to cap it off with a successful campaign in the World Cup. "Although Jyoti and I haven't played together as a team, I believe we'll get on well together. The only thing that we are shy on is the alternate shot format. We're not used to it but I've spoken to Jyoti that we shouldn't say sorry to each other. "If he hits a bad shot or I hit a bad shot, we're not going to say sorry. We are certainly going to put pressure on each other by leaving five or 10 footers for pars but this happens even when we play for ourselves. We should always take a stride forward and move on." A renowned traveler on the international airways to play on the world's finest fairways, Singh has often been forced to skip the World Cup due to his hectic playing schedule. "I've always had to defend a tournament or tried to keep my card somewhere," said Singh, who usually clocks around 40 tournaments per season. "That's why I've never had the opportunity to represent India but now that we've got a direct entry (through the world rankings), I am excited at the prospect at playing in the World Cup." Randhawa said he would be riding on Singh's terrific form in China. "I just need to keep making pars and he'll do the rest," said Randhawa, Asia's No 1 in 2002. "It's a good team and we hope to do well. It is different playing in the World Cup as there is more pressure as you're playing for the country and there is a lot riding on it. It's a great event and I'm looking forward to it." Randhawa and Singh are firm friends as they grew up playing professional golf during the 1990s, which the former believes will carry the team to a good showing in Mission Hills. "We're comfortable being around each other, we are regularly having meals together on Tour. He's a funny guy as well and I hope we don't take it onto the golf course! We will certainly focus on our game and I'm looking forward to partnering him," said Randhawa. China Daily |
