India's Jeev Milkha Singh claimed his first victory in several
years in Beijing yesterday by winning the US$1.8 million Volvo
China Open by just one shot over Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
The 34-year-old Indian carded a two-under-par 70 around the Nick
Faldo-designed course at Beijing's Honghua International Golf Club
to finish 10 under for the tournament.
Singh's victory - his first since the 1999 Lexus International
in Thailand - earned him a cheque for US$300,000. Fernandez, who
also shot a final round 70 to finish nine under earned
US$200,000.
The challenge from Singh's playing partner, overnight leader
David Lynn, collapsed when the Englishman, who had been putting
excellently all week, three-putted the 13th, 14th and 15th.
Lynn's level-par 72 left him in third place at eight under for
the joint Asian and European Tour event.
Defending champion Paul Casey and fellow Englishman, Simon
Wakefield, finished a shot further back in fourth place alongside
Australians Jarrod Lyle and Peter Fowler.
Singh, who started the day a shot behind Lynn after earlier
rounds of 72, 69 and 67, said he was delighted to have broken his
victory drought.
Singh, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour and son of Olympic
sprinter Milkha Singh, bogeyed the opening 417-yard hole to fall
back to seven under for the tournament.
Birdies on the third, fifth and seventh holes saw him hit the
turn in 34, two under for the day and a shot ahead of Lynn.
Coming back, the Indian did exceptionally well not to drop a
shot - and to keep his composure - on the tough 596-yard 11th when
his ball was pocketed by a spectator after it found the rough.
Fortunately, he was allowed to replace it without penalty and
managed to salvage a par.
Lynn's challenge effectively ended with the second of his run of
three-putts on the 533-yard 14th, where Singh made a birdie to the
Englishman's par.
At that point, only the 25-year-old Fernandez looked as though
he had any chance of catching the Indian. But the Spaniard bogeyed
the 465-yard 18th, meaning that Singh, who also carded a five, was
home safely.
Casey, who started the day two shots off the pace, had looked as
though he might become the first ever player to defend the title,
making birdies on the third and fifth. But three bogeys in his next
six holes derailed him.
"I wouldn't say the putting wasn't on because I just don't think
anything was on today," said the 28-year-old member of Europe's
victorious 2004 Ryder Cup team.
"After yesterday's wind I found it difficult with the swing and
that was that," he said. "I couldn't hit the golf ball to where I
wanted to. Clearly looking at the scores I wasn't swinging it very
well and that shows on the card."
Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, who was tied with Singh going into
the final round, also had a day to forget, carding a 75 to finish
10th at five under for the tournament alongside Sweden's Peter
Hanson.
Three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey on the outward nine
kept the 35-year-old Thai in contention but the rot set in on the
158-yard 12th when he hit the water. His double bogey there was
followed by another dropped shot on the next and another bogey on
the 15th.
Wang Ter-chang of Chinese Taipei finished in eighth spot to top
the four Chinese who entered the last day's play. Mainland player,
Li Chao, ended in 54th spot.
Off the course, the China Golf Association and Volvo are to
continue their partnership in staging the Open Championship of
China until 2015, according to an agreement struck at the
weekend.
And next year's total prize fund for the Volvo China Open, which
returns to Shanghai Silport Golf Club, will increase to US$2
million--a jump of US$200,000 from this week's prize pot, said
Volvo Event Management President and CEO, Mel Pyatt.
This means that the prize money has grown by a staggering 500
per cent since the championship's inaugural year in 1995.
"In principle we've reached an agreement with the CGA to stage
the Volvo China Open till 2015 which is a six year extension to our
existing contract which ends in 2009," said Pyatt.
"We are very excited with the future of this great championship
and we are committed to staying the course and making the Open
Championship of China a major event in world golf over the next
decade."
Volvo's commitment to golf in China includes grassroots
development. It has an existing sponsorship agreement with the CGA
till 2009 to stage the Volvo China Junior Golf Championship, which
Pyatt hopes will breed future champions at its flagship
tournament.
"Our partnership with golf in China has been tremendous," he
said. "The early days were pioneering days and it was clearly
focused around a brand rather than a commercial strategy. Now, we
realise that we have been absolutely right with the growth of golf
as it is now with China.
"Golf is growing in China, our Open championship is growing and
so is the commercial growth of the Volvo Group in this country. Its
is a perfect fit," said Pyatt.
(China Daily April 17, 2006)
