Worldwide Golf

GREG Norman singled out Jeev Milkha Singh for praise at the Masters Tournament, predicting the Indian will force his way into his International Team for the Presidents Cup later this year. 

The Australian legend played a practice round with the reigning Asian Tour No. 1 at Augusta National earlier this week and came away thoroughly impressed with Singh's game and attitude. 

"I was impressed," said Norman, the International Team captain. "I was surprised by how far he hits the golf ball. He's sneaky long which is a big advantage on this golf course obviously. I asked him point-blank how are you playing and he said ‘I'm playing very well.' 

"You don't hear too many players come out openly and say I'm playing very well. He's very confident about his game and I'm looking forward to good things from him this week."  

Singh, who is hoping to become the first Indian to play in the Presidents Cup which pits the International Team against the United States, is currently lying in 10^th place in the Team rankings. 

The top-10 players after the PGA Championship in August will earn automatic entry into the team with Norman selecting two more captain's picks. 

Despite his hectic schedule this week following an emotional return to Augusta National, Norman also found time to speak to Prayad Marksaeng at the putting green. He remembers the Thai veteran after playing together in the Dubai Desert Classic in 1996 where the Norman labelled Prayad as "world class". 

"When I get into a situation like this when I can play with some players who look like being on the team, I might go out and spend some time with them," said Norman on why he asked Singh to play a practice round with him alongside Adam Scott and Tim Clark. 

"I've watched Jeev from afar, through TV and reading his scores wherever he plays. He plays a lot of golf, probably more than Vijay Singh, quite honestly, and Vijay plays a lot of golf.  

"You have to admire Jeev. He wants to get on the Presidents Cup team and he was very open about that with me. If he keeps doing what he's doing, he's going to be on it with respect to whether he's a captain's choice or if he just plays his way onto the team." 

Prayad, playing in his second Masters, is lying in 17^th place on the International Team rankings while Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang, also competing at Augusta National this week, is 24^th. 

A good showing by the Asian Tour trio at The Masters will go a long way in keeping Norman's options open for his team that will face the US in Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco from October 6 to 11, 2009. 

Korea's K.J. Choi, an honorary member of the Asian Tour, is eighth on the rankings.