INTERVIEW - Asia close to major breakthrough, says Singh

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

AKRON, Ohio (Reuters) - India's Jeev Milkha Singh believes Asian golf is desperately close to producing its first major winner in the men's ranks.

Singh feels the continent has unprecedented depth in player strength and that a breakthrough at the highest level is simply a question of time.

"There is a lot of talent in Asia and I think in the near future you will see a lot more Asians winning worldwide in the big events," Singh told Reuters on Tuesday as he prepared for this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

"They feel that players like KJ (Choi) and others who are doing well on different tours can do it and therefore why not them? It's a good thing to have that in yourself, to believe that if someone else can do it, why not me?"

South Korean Choi has posted four top-10 finishes in majors, including a tie for eighth in this month's British Open at Carnoustie.

Although three-times major winner Vijay Singh is of Indian ancestry, he was born in Fiji and is therefore claimed by the continent of Oceania.

"There are so many more Asians with a lot of talent," Singh added. "They just need to come out and get a chance to play. They want to prove themselves, and that's the beauty about it."