Golf/European Tour News:Jeev Milkha Singh has welcomed the introduction of the Indian Masters to the European Tour schedule as he looks to go head-to-head with world number four Ernie Els at the Delhi Golf Club this week.

This is the first time the European Tour has visited the country, which becomes the 37th nation to stage an event, which is co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour.

"It is going to be really big because golf is the fastest-growing sport in India and the way things are looking with the European Tour events and Asian Tour events coming I think it is going to be great for the public and also for the young kids who also want to take up golf," Singh said yesterday.

"I was always going to play, I think it is good to give something back to the game.

"It's going to be great to have Ernie Els playing in India, it's going to be big."

The prize fund in Delhi is €1.6 million - the same as Dubai last week - and that, and the fact it is a new destination, has attracted the likes of Els and Ryder Cup stars David Howell, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn.

Admission for spectators is free in order to help generate interest in the event and Singh welcomed the move to promote the sport in his homeland.

The former Asian Tour Order of Merit winner was the first Indian golfer to become a fully exempt member of the European Tour after successfully graduating from qualifying school in 1997, while he was also the first to break into the world's top 50 and play at the Masters.

The son of legendary Indian athlete Milkha Singh jumped to a career-high 37th in the world from 376th in just one season after winning four titles in 2006, including the Volvo Masters at Valderrama to make up for six win-less years.

He now returns home on a high after a top-20 finish at the Dubai Desert Classic.

"I am playing really good. I just had a few management errors in Dubai but I am looking forward to this week," he added.

"I started the year a little slow compared to my expectations but I am now playing well.

"I do need to work on my putting.

"But it is going to be a completely different ball game because the course is completely different than Dubai, you have to hit a lot of irons off the tee and the greens are not going to be as quick.

"They will also be not in as good as a conditions as Dubai, they will be grainy.

"I have played the course many times and I am playing well so I am looking forward to a good week.

"I know the course but you have to be mentally strong and make the most out of it."