Jeev, Atwal to bounce back at Macau

October 16, 2013. Seasoned Indians, Jeev Milkha Singh and Arjun Atwal plan to seek revival from their career dip with a strong showing at the US$800,000 Venetian Macau Open, which starts on Thursday.

Unfortunately, Jeev has missed 10 cuts in his last 11 tournaments in Europe but he hopes a return onto the Asian Tour, where he is a six-time champion.

“I’ve gone through this phase before and if you believe in yourself, things will turn,” said Singh, who finished fourth in Macau two years ago. “I’ve gone through ups and downs throughout my career but I’ve always come out as a winner. I’m just going to hang in there again.”

[highlight] I’ve gone through ups and downs throughout my career but I’ve always come out as a winner. I’m just going to hang in there again, says Jeev [/highlight]

A niggling right index finger injury has troubled Singh this season, which has seen him fall out of the world’s top-100. With seven other wins in Europe and Japan in his illustrious career, Singh believes he can return into the world’s top-50 and dreams of winning a Major championship.

“Before my career is over, I would like to win a Major. I believe I have the game. If I hang in there, put myself in the right position, and the right position would be the top-50 to get into the Majors, I think I have a fighting chance,” said Singh.

Jeev is travelling along with his family to The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel, and is certain of remarkable display this week.

Atwal has had worst time of his career this year due to injuries. The 2003 Asian Tour number one and the first Indian winner on the PGA Tour, hopes the feel-good vibes in Macau will help him launch a revival.

“I think I last played in Macau in 2003 and I remember I played well and maybe finished third and had a chance to win on Sunday. I’ve got good memories of Macau,” said Atwal. “You have to drive it good. It gets pretty windy out there and it’s a tight golf course. You have to hit a lot of fairways and like most golf courses, make putts to have a chance.

An elite cast at the challenging Macau Club includes four-time Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa, Thai stars Thaworn Wiratchant and Thongchai Jaidee, Indian duo Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal and Chinese ace Liang Wen-chong, all former Order of Merit champions.

Australian Scott Hend, a two-time winner this season and currently second on the rankings, and titleholder Gaganjeet Bhullar of India will also headline what is the strongest field at the Venetian Macau Open.

Since its inauguration in 1998, the tournament has been graced by the presence of some of the best golfers the world has ever seen, including Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington, Fred Couples, Ian Woosnam and Mark O’Meara.