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Sports

Thursday September 3, 2009

Ben seeks change of fortunes at Swiss Alps

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Ben Leong hopes a change in scenery will spark a revival in his game when he competes in the Omega European Masters, starting today in Crans Montana, Switzerland.

The 23-year-old has endured a frustrating season on the Asian Tour this year but he hopes to turn the corner at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club at the Swiss Alps.

Many of the game’s leading names will feature in the US$2.8mil event, which is the first event on European soil to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

“I’m keeping my expectations low this week. I’ve not had a good year and I’ll just try to have fun out there,” said Ben, who qualified as a winner on the Asian Tour by virtue of his victory in the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters last year.

“There is a saying that you should try to ‘play like how you practice and practise like how you play’, so I hope it works for me here.”

Ben: Hopes his game can pick up after enduring a frustrating season on the Asian Tour this year.

Like many first-timers to the Swiss resort town, Ben has been taken aback by the stunning views of snow-capped mountains from almost every corner of the par-71 course.

“It’s a great place but the course is quite tricky. You need to hit a lot of good shots out there to make a score,” said Ben, who is one of the two Malaysians in the tournament.

Compatriot Iain Steel, who earned his place by virtue of a top 30 finish in the Order of Merit last year, will be aiming to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup with a strong outing in Crans Montana.

Last week, Steel and Danny Chia finished fourth in the World Cup qualifiers, one rung outside making the grade.

“I was disappointed but this week is a new week,” said Steel.

“I’m getting over the jet lag but it should not take long to adjust. I am used to these type of grass and you need to adjust to the altitude as well.”

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