Jeev eager to set right home record

Gurgaon: Foreign soil often brings out the best in Jeev Milkha Singh and the Indian golf ace will tee off in the Avantha Masters, hoping to set right his home record which is not equally impressive. One of the most decorated golfer of the continent, Jeev is a six-time winner on the Asian Tour with additional victories in Japan and Europe but none came at home. But his mind relaxed and game in a ship-shape condition, Jeev hopes to break the home soil duck this time around. "I have not done too well at home but I`m working together with my coach this week and feeling good about my form. It`s always nice to win at home and I`ll go out there and do my best. Let`s see how it goes," said Jeev. Dwelling on the Euro 1.5 million event tri-sanctioned by European Tour, Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India, Jeev said he expected one of the Indian golfers to walk away with the title on Sunday. "All top Indian golfers are part of the field. It just could not get better. You have Gaganjeet (Bhullar), who is doing so well and then you have Arjun (Atwal), Jyoti (Randhawa), Shiv (Kapur), SSP (Chowrasia), (C) Muniyappa, (Anirban) Lahiri...We usually play well at home and I hope we`ll do well again," he said. Jeev singled out the Indian youngsters, saying they are capable of pulling off surprise. "They maybe just 20 or 21 but never scared. I often joke that they have so much of fire in their belly that they should lend me some of it," Jeev quipped. Sharing his strategy for the elite tournament, Jeev said patience and course management would hold key. "The course is in very good condition but wind might be a factor. I think ninth, 14th and 17th holes would be key. I`m otherwise an aggressive player but I would adopt a rather conservative approach here.” "I think patience and course management would be crucial. Most golfer would have a look at the course and believe that they can hit five or six under, which is not going to happen. The par-five holes may look reachable but there you might err. The trees have grown since I played here last and you cannot be overly aggressive here," Jeev explained. Some of the top Europeans are missing in the list but Jeev felt the field had enough depth in it. "There is a lot of depth in the field. You have the best Asian and Indian golfers here. Among the Europeans, you have someone like Darren Clarke.” "With the (WGC-Accenture) Matchplay scheduled from next Wednesday (in Arizona), it`s difficult for a golfer to complete here on Sunday and then fly to US and have just Tuesday`s practice before heading for the game," he explained. Jeev, along with European Tour chief operation officer Keith Waters, Asian Tour CEO Kyi Hla Han, PGTI Director Padamjit Sandhu and Yogesh Agarwal, COO of Avantha`s flagship company BILT, unveiled the trophy today. PTI