Jeev to lead Indian challenge at Avantha Matsers

Asian Tour honorary member and two-time Order of Merit winner, Jeev Milkha Singh will spearhead the Indian challenge at the season-opening Avantha Masters scheduled to be held here form February 17-20.

The tournament at the DLF Golf and Country Club, which will also feature Gaganjeet Bhullar, will provide Jeev with an opportunity to bounce back after a dismal 2010 season which was plagued by injuries.

"I just want to prepare myself to be injury-free in 2011. Becoming fit, and keeping that way, is definitely my priority number one. And if I can manage to do that, I think I will be able to achieve all my other ambitions," Jeev said.

"2010 was a stop-and-start one and I had absolutely no momentum. Just when I thought I was getting back into the swing of things, I got injured again. It was extremely frustrating," Jeev added.

All eyes will also be on Bhullar who got his pre-season preparations off to the best possible start when he won three successive titles from three starts.

"I am currently on a winning streak there is a lot of positive energy around me and that helps me come through even in tough situations," Bhullar had said.

While Jeev is hoping to reignite his title charge, much will be expected from three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand who currently holds the record of having the most Asian Tour wins with 13 victories.

Other stars poised to spearhead the strong Asian challenge at the tri-sanctioned event between the Asian Tour, European Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) include holder Andrew Dodt of Australia, Singapore's Mardan Mamat, Japans Tetsuji Hiratsuka and 2010 Asian Tour rookie of the year, Rikard Karlberg of Sweden who have a combined total of seven Asian Tour titles.