Golf Events / Editor / 09 March 2007 /

India's Jyoti Randhawa is well-placed to step out of the shadow of compatriot Jeev Milka Singh and register his first win on the European Tour at this week's Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

Randhawa recorded his previous best tour finish back in 2004, when he finished tied for second at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

But the 34-year-old is in pole position to achieve his maiden victory after taking a one-shot lead in windy conditions at the halfway stage of the Singapore Masters.

Randhawa's second round 68 means he lies on 11-under-par, one stroke clear of Scot Barry Hume with Malaysia's Iain Steel and Englishman Gary Lockerbie one shot further back.

Randhawa began the week trading at around 46 but can now be backed for the title at 3.3, with Wen-Chong Liang available at 11.5 ahead of Hume (13), Lockerbie (14), Peter Lawrie and Thongchai Jaidee (both 17) and Steel (22).

The 2007 season has thrown up a number of surprise results this year, with no fewer than seven first-time winners already, and the trend looks set to continue this weekend with Ryder Cup stars David Howell, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke all missing the cut.

There are still a number of established stars who are handily placed to have their say in the finish on Sunday, but it is Randhawa who will start the weekend as the overwhelming favourite.

The Indian has threatened to challenge on a number of occasions this season, only to fall away in the later stages of tournaments.

The one notable exception was at the Dubai Desert Classic, where he finished joint seventh, and Randhawa believes the experience of competing against the likes of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els has helped him become a much better player this year.

A winner six times on the Asian Tour, Randhawa has shown a liking for this event in the past after finishing in the top ten twice in three starts.

He is putting well on the tricky greens in Singapore and does not seem bothered by the tricky weather conditions this week. Randhawa looks to have a favourite's chance, especially when you consider he believes he is not even playing that well at the moment.

Wen-Chong Liang, who lies three strokes behind the leader, will be a popular choice among backers after establishing himself as China's leading player, while there will be a big cheer in Scotland if Hume triumphs at the weekend.

Hume, a former Scottish amateur who resorted to the Asian Tour after failing six times to win his European card, is playing at the top of his game at the moment and could even have been the leader at the halfway stage, but for a double-bogey five at the 17th which blotted his second round 69.

Steel, as his name suggests, also has roots in Scotland despite representing Malaysia and his 65 was the best round of the day on Friday and included eight birdies.

Steel's performance is no fluke this week as he finished tied for 10th at last week's Johnnie Walker Classic, he is playing full of confidence at the moment and should not be dismissed lightly. He is 2.52 to place in the top five.

The same applies to Lockerbie, who has made a fine start to life on the European Tour after graduating from the Challenge Tour last year.

Lockerbie, who finished joint fifth at last month's Malaysian Open, reeled off five birdies in his final nine holes on Friday in an error-free round of 67 to move smoothly into contention.

Irishman Lawrie and Australian Marcus Fraser (26 in the win market) are sure to have their followers while backers should also keep a close eye on Jaidee, who is creeping up the leaderboard.

By his high standards, the Thai star - who is five shots off the lead - has had a disappointing time during the Asian swing of the Tour on home soil, and even missed the cut at the Malaysian Open.

But successive rounds of 69 means Jaidee is breathing down the necks of the leaders going into the weekend and they will be well aware of his presence.

India's Gaurev Ghei, on the same mark as Jaidee and Andrew Coltart, is also well placed to mount a challenge and, after finishing sixth last week, could be a good bet at 40.

With two top five finishes already in 2007, Jean-Francois Lucquin is another with form on his side and, just six shots behind Randhawa, looks attractively priced at 90 and 7.6 to come in the first five.

Ross Fisher, so impressive in Dubai last month, shrugged off the disappointment of an opening round 74 to move back into the reckoning with a six-under-par 66 and may be value at odds of 60, while previous Asian winners Simon Dyson and Nick Dougherty should not be forgotten either.

Dyson, 50 to win, is seven strokes adrift of Randhawa at halfway while 2005 winner and runner-up here last year Dougherty, 80 to win and 6.6 to place in the top five, is two strokes further back but could be worth following if he starts holing a few putts.

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