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Scott, Vijay Singh, Montgomerie have their task cut out

Rakesh Rao

Tricky course adds to the challenge; Indians among the underdogs

Vijay Singh happy with his form and keen to improve his World ranking
Jeev Milkha Singh hoping to break home jinx

GURGAON: Adam Scott, Vijay Singh, Colin Montgomerie are all part of the creamy layer of the $2.57 million Johnnie Walker Classic golf starting here on Thursday.

But each has a different reason for chasing the winner’s share of $445,132 this week.

Scott, the strongest Australian golfer since Greg Norman, is here to do justice to his growing reputation. Maria Sharapova had declared her “crush” for him and noted golf instructor Butch Harmon Jr., who played a part in the early career of Tiger Woods, tipped Scott as the man most likely to challenge the great champion.

“I certainly have the desire to do that. But it seems like I put together pieces of the game very slowly so Tiger always seems to be getting further and further away. He normally doesn’t win every week, so there is opportunity to beat him,” he said.

On Sharapova’s admission, Scott said, “I’ve not met Maria, but that’s nice. She’s a good-looking girl, a good tennis player. Maybe we’ll run into each other one day.”

Montgomerie, the celebrated Scottish player considered by many as the strongest player never to win a Major, declared his reason to be here.

More ranking points

“The reason I’m really playing, really, for the next few weeks is to gain as many ranking points as possible. I gained a few last week (in the WGC Match Play Championship) and moved up from 62 to 54, and I’ve got more to do this week and try to get in the top 50 when the cut-off for the U.S. Masters comes, the only major I am not playing in,” admitted the 44-year-old whose highest World ranking remains second after having spent more than 400 weeks in the top 10 list.

Vijay, the man who in September 2004 ended the 264-week run of Tiger Woods as the World No. 1, is happy with his form and keen to improve his World ranking of 11.

During the week, the Fijian is also looking for “a lot more opportunities to design golf courses here."

Vijay, who designed a course in Goa which “should be up and going very soon,” sounded very keen on adding to the list.

Jeev’s hope

Besides the ‘biggies’, Jeev Milkha Singh is hoping to break the jinx of not winning a Major title in India.

Runner-up in Jakarta last fortnight, Jeev took a week off and stayed positive about this event.

“The positive I take out is that there is something better waiting for me. If you get down on yourself, this game is hard enough to make your way down,” Jeev said.

There has been a new winner of the European Tour week after week and there is every possibility of the trend continuing here this Sunday and even an Indian winner cannot be ruled out.

Much will depend on who handles the tough, gusty conditions better.

The undulating greens add to the challenge. The grainy look of the greens makes it difficult for those trying to conquer it.

Without doubt, the course is in great condition. Still, one has to control the ball off the tees and be on the fairways on the correct side of the greens. Otherwise, getting a high number on this course is very easy. For once, the Indians are happy to be among the underdogs.

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