Simon Yates wary of Jeev, Randhawa in Volvo Masters of Asia

The superlative form of Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa has clearly left their peers in awe and Simon Yates, two-time winner on the Asian Tour, rates the Indian duo as the players to beat in next month's 650,000 dollar Volvo Masters of Asia at Thai Country Club here.

Randhawa, the 2004 champion here, has struck rich form with the triumph in Indian Open and the lanky golfer led the first two rounds in HSBC Champions before finishing tied ninth and again grabbed early lead in Hong Kong Open before finishing tied third.

Jeev, meanwhile, would be gunning for a Volvo hat-trick here and his morale would be high after winning his first Japan Tour title yesterday.

Earlier, the Indian came up with magnificent victories in the Volvo China Open and the Volvo Masters.

''Jyoti is always going to be a good bet, he drives the ball well and he has been playing well recently,' said Yates.

''And Jeev with his confidence and the way he has been playing will be up there,'' felt the Scot, who is based in Thailand.

He also identified 2003 winner Thongchai Jaidee and another local favourite, Prayad Marksaeng, as two other players to watch.

On his chances, Yates is hoping that some inside knowledge will help him finish an injury-interrupted year on a high note at Asian Tour’s season-ending event from December 14-17.

''Last year I was joint ninth. I played nicely but did not putt great. I did not know the greens very well,'' said Yates.

Yates, an all-round sportsman who represented Scotland as a downhill skier and now races sports cars, rates Thai Country Club as one of the best venues in Asia.

''I think it is a great golf course, one of the best we play condition wise all year. As a golf course, it is very fair,'' he said.

The course has been lengthened and toughened up since Shiv Kapur won last year’s Volvo Masters of Asia with a score of 20-under 268.

''I played there recently and they are bringing the rough up and it is really tough. If you do not drive it straight it is going to be a difficult golf course. There again it is like any golf course, if you drive it straight it makes it a lot easier,'' added Yates, known to his peers as ''The Wee Man''.

UNI XC AY PM PM1318

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