Singh on song in BMW Asian Open

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh wielded a hot putter as he launched another title assault at the BMW Asian Open with a four-under-par 68 for the joint first round lead early on Thursday.

The 2006 Asian Tour number one needed only 23 putts at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club to share the early honours with Henrik Stenson of Sweden, England’s Oliver Wilson and Mikko Ilonen of Finland.

Australian Scott Hend shrugged off a late double bogey en route to a 69 to lie one off the pace in the US$2.3 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association.

The tenacious Singh, fresh from his best Major finish at the Masters Tournament where he tied for 25th position two weeks ago, struggled to find the mark with his ball striking after taking last week off but made up with an outstanding putting display.

“I didn’t hit the ball good today but my putting was excellent. Last week was an off week and I didn’t practice much and it showed up today. However, I would prefer good putting to ball striking on any day. It’s a good feeling when you can get the ball into the hole,” said Singh.

This season, the Indian star has posted two runner-up outings in Indonesia and Korea and believes he has a chance of securing Asia’s first victory in the BMW Asian Open, which was inaugurated in 2001.

“I love this golf course. You’ve got to have strong management and I did that today.
You have to drive it well here and I have been driving it well. That’s why I was comfortable and it suits me,” he said.

While delighted with his Masters experience, Singh said he needed to adjust quickly to the speed of the greens at the par-72, 7,326 yard Tomson course. “Yesterday, I putted a lot as I was trying to get the speed in my hands. I felt the greens were slow compared to Augusta,” he said.

World number 13 Stenson lived up to his top billing with a six-birdie round, giving himself a chance of redemption following a play-off loss at the 2006 BMW Asian Open.

Starting from the 10th, he got out from the blocks with four birdies over his opening seven holes before three putting the par three 17th which stalled his fast start. “I played really solid in the beginning and then made a bad three putt. Then I finished well with two good putts and two birdies after that. I’m happy with the way I played today,” said Stenson.

“It is always nice coming back to a course where you have played well before. Obviously you don’t want to bring back the memories of how it felt five minutes after losing the play-off but I enjoy myself here. It is a long way from home but a nice place here in Shanghai and a nice course and I just felt I played well.”

Veteran Zhang Lian-wei enjoyed a solid opening 70 to lead the local charge in the event which has attracted former world number one Greg Norman of Australia and two-time Major winner Retief Goosen, who are playing in the afternoon.