Singh changes Indian attitudes towards golf

PHUKET: Asian No.1 Jeev Milkha Singh hasn’t yet reached the superstar status of Sachin Tendulkar in his native India, but he is well on his way. Singh has done more than anyone to promote what is still a rich man’s game in his teeming homeland with the success he enjoyed last year, which included a European Tour victory.

In April, he will become the first player from India to compete in The Masters at Augusta, helping do what many thought impossible — focussing the public attention on golf rather than cricket. “It has been a dream to play there since I was a boy,” he said, adding that his appearance on the hallowed greens will help further change attitudes to the sport in India, where it was long seen as a bad career move.

“People now know they can become a professional golfer — not in my time,” said the 35-year-old from Chandigarh.

“In my time parents were hesitant. I was one of a small bunch that took the plunge but now when the parents see us doing well they think ‘hey, my kid can do that too.’

“It has already made a difference but obviously we want some more players to come out, with parents who think like that, who encourage them in the sport and let them have golf as a profession.”

Singh enjoyed an outstanding year in 2006, winning four times across the world, lifting his maiden Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown and leaping to 37th place on world rankings. Along with fellow Asian Tour regulars from India like Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa and Shiv Kapur, he has raised the profile of golf in a cricket-dominated country.

“That’s a difference,” said the golfer, who for years lived in the shadow of his famous father Milkha “the Flying Sikh” Singh, one of India’s best known athletes.

“There really is a lot of awareness now about golf. We can’t compare ourselves to cricket. I mean, cricket is huge, it’s a religion in our country I feel and if we can get close to cricket I think it will be great.”

Such is his status now in India, where he is instantly recognisable, that Singh is also due to receive an award from Indian President Abdul Kalam, which he said was the equivalent to being knighted. “It’s for civilians who have done something to make the country proud. They are giving it to me for last year’s performance,” he said.

Singh now tees off this week at the Johnnie Walker Classic, jointly sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, where he will be up against a glittering field including Ernie Els, Adam Scott and Colin Montgomerie.