Captain Singh has winning ambition at US$1.5 million Ho Tram Open

Ho Tram, Vietnam: Indian star Jeev Milkha Singh is happy to juggle between two jobs as he seeks a return to winning ways at the inaugural US$1.5 million Ho Tram Open which starts on Thursday.

The double Asian Tour number one has been kept busy off the golf course following his appointment as captain of Team Asia for the EurAsia Cup against Europe in Malaysia next month but the Indian veteran is maintaining his full focus of his own career as well.

A trip to the award-winning The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip course for Vietnam’s richest sporting event has Singh buzzing with excitement, with one eye cast on the magnificent trophy on offer and the other on the performances of potential Team Asia members.

“It’s fantastic to be here. It’s an excellent venue, staying on site at a good hotel with good food. The beauty of staying on site makes a lot of difference as you come up here, do your practice and go back home to relax. The golf course is in excellent condition and it’ll be a great test of golf with the winds blowing,” said Singh.

The Greg Norman links-styled course has received rave reviews from players all week and with strong gusts coming in from off the coast especially in the afternoon, Singh hopes it will bring about a change in his golfing fortunes where his last victory was at the 2012 Scottish Open.

“I feel really good playing golf in windy conditions. I’m happy that I’m playing out here and hope conditions are windy as it’s a great test and you need your imagination and feel. I’ve done well in windy conditions in the past and hopefully I can make the most of the week,” he said.

With an opening round pairing with Europe’s Ryder Cup and EurAsia Cup captain Darren Clarke, Singh is looking forward to the next two days competing alongside his good friend and rival.

“I’m loving the draw. I spoke to Darren yesterday and I said ‘Hey man, it starts right now here and it’s going to carry on to the EurAsia Cup week.’ It’ll be good banter the next two days and I’m looking forward to it,” said the six-time Asian Tour winner.

“I’m taking the captain’s job in a positive sense. The EurAsia Cup captaincy is like a respect given by my peers plus I feel I’ve still got the game to play. I’ll keep working hard at it and do the best that I can and hopefully win more tournaments in the years to come.

“I feel the Team Asia is going to be strong. I’ve spoken to a lot of players and they are happy to be playing for Asia. I’m happy they have committed to it and I’m looking forward to the week. It’ll be a great championship with a good format. Europe has got a strong team. Their first 10 players are world-class players and I think it’ll be the same for Asian players who are also world class players.”

Since opening in October 2014, the links-style layout, located two hours southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, has been hailed by many of the world’s leading authorities on golf. In January, GOLF Magazine named it one of the world’s best new courses. In July, the Australian Financial Review called it “as pretty a course as you’ll find on the entire Asian continent.” Last month, it was named the “World’s Best New Course” at the World Golf Awards ceremony in Portugal.