Jeev spars with Els, rues Match Play defeat

Phuket, Feb 27 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh is smarting from his defeat against Stweart Cink in the Accenture Match Play last week but the star Indian feels he can turn his season around with a little more trust on his putter.

Jeev, who enjoyed a nine-hole practice round with South African star Ernie Els in the lead-up to this week's Johnnie Walker Classic at Blue Canyon Country Club here, said it was Cink's superior putting which put paid to his hopes.

''I...had a good match with Stewart Cink in the Accenture Match Play last week but he made a lot of putts and he got me. It was disappointing to lose but it was a good experience being my first time at the Match Play. It's about who holes the more putts. The only way I look at it was it was excellent an experience and the atmosphere was terrific,'' Jeev said.

Shifting focus to the Johnnie Walker Classic, Jeev said he was at home with the course.

''I like it. You have to have a lot of distance control and you need to hit it to the right part of the green. Even if you miss it, you need to miss it on the right side,' he said.

The Indian was also elated after swinging his club along side Els.

''It was good to play with Ernie on Monday. I enjoyed playing with him. He's easy going and a good guy. The way he swings it, it's fantastic. He's one of the best swingers in the world,'' he said.

''Basically you learn on how they conduct themselves on the course and what they think about when they are playing different shots and how they communicate with their caddies. It was good,'' he added.

After a fairytale season last year, things are not going very smooth for the reigning Asian number one but Jeev is hardly losing his sleep.

''I've been pleased with how I've hit the ball this season which has been really good. I'm happy with the way I'm playing right now.

My putting is coming around too. I'm trusting it more and it's getting better. I've got to trust it more. I'm looking forward to playing again.

''I had a great putting season last year. I think my expectations are too high and I'm just going to go out there and putt and see what comes my way. Obviously when you've putted well, you tend to think that everything will be the same again,'' he explained.

''It takes time and I've always been a good putter and I know it'll come around again. It's more on trust. I'm not trusting it enough right now. If I look at my record from previous years, I've always had a slow start to the year and things get better from March onwards. This will be a good week to get it going again.

''I'm going to shoot under par every day. This course is a challenge. You have to handle yourself well,'' he said, elaborating on his plans for the event.

UNI