It’s been a dream: Jeev Milka Singh

Jeev Milkha Singh says his ultimate target is to get into top 10 ranking

This is a rebirth for Jeev Milkha Singh. He can now claim to have lived up to his famous surname.

After criss-crossing golf courses across Asia and Europe and Japan as a mere a traveller, he has ended his search in an incredible fashion. Jeev has won four tournaments across the globe, three of them were in three different ‘golfing continents’ (Japan Tour is vast and a separate entity from Asia) and at the conclusion of this season Jeev had taken a leap into the orbit from being almost in oblivion in April.

He has been given automatic qualification for the US Masters in April after finishing amongst the top-50 in the world. Jeev’s world ranking has soared incredibly like his tee-off shot to an amazing 37th place from 319th in April. He will be the first Indian to participate in the US Masters.

On Sunday at the Asian Tour award function held in Bangkok, Jeev swept three prestigious awards, including the inaugural category for ‘Special Achievement’ for this year in addition to winning the ‘Player of the Year’ and the ‘Asian Order of Merit’. Incidentally, even the 34-year-old golfer had no premonition about his ensuing success.
Jeev arrived in the Capital on Tuesday from the award ceremony in Thailand, enroute to his home, Chandigarh. He will be spending four days in Delhi to meet his various obligations with his sponsors.

His mobile phone doesn’t stop ringing for a second in half-an hour when this interview was conducted. But, surprisingly, one found him to be calm, handling the U-turn in the people’s attitude towards him. The turbulent phase is over and Jeev is as down-to-earth about his achievements as he was earlier. He modestly said: “It’s been a dream.”
“I had never thought (it was possible). Can you believe it — my dad (Milkha Singh) had called me up in Bangkok to say, ‘Son, you have surpassed me’. But I don’t think so,” said Jeev and added: “And I hope this is not my best year though realistically, it’s going to be tough (to better it).”

How was the dramatic transformation fashioned in his case? “I have no idea. You just keep on trying to play your best. But I am glad that I could win on all the three Tours.”
He also became the first Asian to win on the European Tour. “That victory (in the Volvo Open in Spain) was special, it wasn’t about the prize money I had won ($840,855)) but the quality of players I had beaten to win the title.”

But, does he expect recognition to come at home, specially with cricket hogging all the limelight. “I am happy that our cricketers and tennis player Sania Mirza get so much sponsorship. But I personally feel that our corporates have been very slow in supporting sports overall. However, it’s time for people to realise the concept of golf and the significance of our achievements. Finishing in the top-10 in a golf tournament is equivalent to a cricketer scoring a half-century in an international match and winning a prestigious tournament is like scoring a double century.”

His next target, is to get into the top-10 and for the time-being remain consistent in his ranking. “That (top-10) will be the ultimate.”

Talking movies and scuba diving with Tiger

“Tiger (Woods) and I don’t discuss golf. We talked about scuba diving and movies during our meeting at the HSBC Open. He is the perfect ambassador for the sport and follows the performance of each individual very carefully.”

It’s about ability, not wealth

“There is no such thing as caddy-golfer and gentleman-golfer. I don’t care whether the player speaks English or not, his club should be talking. As it is, most of the players on Japanese Tour don’t speak English.”

The future is bright for Indian golf

SSP Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur and Rahul Ganjee can beat me on a given day. Indian golf has a great future. It’s time for the corporates and people to come forward and support us. I would like to play more often on the Indian Tour.”

No pressure from family

I am fortunate to be born into the family. Dad (Milkha Singh) had called me in Bangkok and he said to me, ‘Son, you have surpassed me’. But I told him that I don’t think so.”