Brown begins battle for Order of Merit crown

text size

SENTOSA, Singapore --: New Zealand's Mark Brown will begin his battle to defend his position at the top of the Order of Merit when the Asian Tour runs major events starting with the HSBC Champions this week.

Little/Getty Images

Mark Brown will have to fend off Jeev Milkha Singh if he wants to maintain his lead in the Order of Merit.

Brown, who currently leads the money list with $740,767, is expected to face a strong challenge from former Asian Tour No. 1 Jeev Milkha Singh of India who trails by a mere $150,773 in second place.

India's S.S.P. Chowrasia is ranked third with earnings of $439,930 while a spot below is compatriot Arjun Atwal with $430,201.

The battle for Brown will start with the $5 million HSBC Champions in Shanghai followed by the $5 million Barclays Singapore Open next week and the $2.5 million UBS Hong Kong Open, which tees off in two weeks' time.

"I am quite pleased with how I found my driving game. I will try my best to chase the Order of Merit title, but I can't worry about it," admitted Brown, who won back-to-back titles this year at the Sail Open in February and the Johnnie Walker Classic in March.

"February seems like a long time ago. I didn't play very well in Europe, but I am feeling better about my game now," he said.

Brown turned professional in 1996 and had taken a sabbatical several years ago. He earned full playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2007 where he nailed four top-10 finishes.

India's Singh, who was the 2006 Asian Tour No. 1, is relishing the prospect of battling it out with Brown in the coming weeks.

"Mark and I have a good contest going, and I know just how determined he is to win the No. 1 title just as I aim to do the same.

"I would love to win the Order of Merit a second time. It will come down to who does best in the HSBC, the Barclays and the UBS," said Singh, who is enjoying a solid year having triumphed in Austria and Japan, coupled with two runner-up finishes on the Asian Tour this year. He most recently nailed a top-10 finish at the Hero Honda Indian Open last month.

This week's HSBC Champions will offer $5 million in total prize money with the winner taking home $833,300.

"There's a lot of prestige in winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit, so I will be pushing Mark all the way," added Singh.

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant finished runner-up at the Iskandar Johor Open on Sunday and rose to eighth place on the rankings with earnings of $300,767.

The Order of Merit champion will gain exemptions into the British Open and WGC-CA Championship in the United States next year.