Jeev gears up for BMW Asian Open

Sanghai, Apr 23 (UNI) In search of his first victory in the past 16 months, ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh returns to China for the BMW Asian Open starting here tomorrow.

Jeev have been put in marquee groups as he plays with last week's winner in the Volvo China Open at Beijing, Damien McGrane and David Howell, who won the HSBC Shanghai ahead of Tiger Woods at the same course two years ago.

The 36-year-old golfer, who made the cut at his second successive Masters two weeks ago, has been second at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open where he lost with a bogey and was then beaten again in a play-off at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. He did finish tied 25th at the Masters and then took a week off.

''I know I am playing well. It is just that I am getting a little anxious about results at time,'' said Jeev, who was Asian Tour Number one in 2006.''I know it will come and I am hitting the ball well.'' ''I must follow my routine for every shot and if I can keep that going it will happen,'' he said.

Apart from Jeev, seven other Indians - Jyoti Randhawa, SSP Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei, Rahil Gangjee, Amandeep Johl and Digvijay Singh will vie for honurs.

Randhawa, who played nine weeks in a row at the start of the year and then decided to take a big break said ''Fresh after a long lay-off I am raring to go.'' Meanwhile, the field is very strong with the likes of Dubai-based Swede Henrik Stenson, Asian Tour Number one in 2007 Liang Wen-Chong, South African Retief Goosen, the big-hitting Australian Scott Hend. The 53-year-old former world number Greg Norman, is also making a rare appearance in Asia.

Since the event's inauguration in 2001, no Asian player has won the prestigious title.

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