‘The day I win the Masters I’ll overtake Dad’

Jeev Milkha Singh’s win at the Singapore Open made him the Asian Tour’s first single-season millionaire and also earned him the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit for the second time in three years. On a hot streak, the Indian golfer tells Mihir Vasavda that he wants to surpass his father, Milkha Singh’s achievements

It was a quite year for you. You dropped out of the top-50 and now you are back with a bang.
I’ve been playing well the entire season. I feel the golfing Gods have been kind to me during most of the crucial rounds, which has been the key. I have just done my best and things have fallen into place.

Chandigarh has given us two great achievers this year in you and Abhinav Bindra…
Both of us have grown up in the same place, so it really feels great. I feel it is the standard of facilities this city provides that helps produce sportsmen. Chandigarh is one of the best cities for sports because the facilities provided are easily accessible to everyone. All major sporting centres are well managed. We may have nice centres elsewhere but what is the use of having good infrastructure if you are not able to make proper use of it.

You have also won the Asian Order of Merit before in 2006. What makes it different this time?
I feel it’s always good to be first in anything you do in life. As I’ve said, this will help my ride into the Majors next year be smoother. It will also help to gain more recognition. It’s good to win it a second time.

India now has three golfers in top-five on the Asian Order of Merit, the other two being Arjun Atwal and SSP Chowrasia. Is Indian golf going through its best phase ever?
This just shows that our golfers have the potential to compete at the highest level. The fact that you are in the top-five shows that we are doing well. This is the fastest growing sport in our country and I feel parents should not stop a child if he or she wants to take up golf. There is money, recognition but most importantly sport helps you mature.

Achievements wise, how would you rate your father’s performance?
I feel I am coming close to matching my father’s achievements. He has done wonders in his sport, during his era. The day I win the Masters, I think I will overtake him, with regard to achievements.

How easy or difficult was it growing up as Milkha Singh’s son?
As you’ve just put it, it was both, easy as well as difficult. He was a very firm guy, who believed in maintaining discipline, a thing that everyone hates as a child. I must have heard words like hard work and discipline over a million times. But on the flipside, he has been a great inspiration to me. He once told me when I started my career: “Let not people say you are Milkha’s son. Let them say I am Jeev’s father.”

When was the first time you played golf?
I was nine years old then. Dad used to go to the club on the weekends with his friends. I was fascinated by the sport and the challenge of hitting the ball in the hole from around 500 yards impressed me. From then on, I have never looked back…

Any special childhood memories?
I along with my friends would play-act with my caddie and imagine that I had a putt to win the Masters. My caddie would then tell me to just putt and stop dreaming. I still hope that dream comes true.

How important was your stint at the Abilene Christian University?
That was the time when I started taking golf more seriously. My mentor, Fred Couples, played a great role in shaping my outlook to the game.  We used to go to watch various tournaments and watching some of the star players inspired me a lot.

You won your first title in 1993. Fifteen years later, how much have you grown as a player since then?
When I started the tour, it was very hard. You have to stay away from home most of the time. But what I have learnt is not just about golf. It is about meeting people, experiencing different cultures. Travelling makes you more mature and makes you a man of this world. Though it takes a heavy toll on your body, you learn the most when you travel.

You didn’t win a trophy for almost seven years until you broke the jinx in 2006. What went wrong?
It was simply not my time. I tried to hang in there. May be I got a bit anxious when it came to crucial holes. But I didn’t put pressure on myself. I knew by sticking to the basics I would get back on track. Every player goes through a lean patch, mine just lasted too long.

Now, what are your expectations next year?
I hope to win a tournament in the US. However, I may cut down on the number of tournaments I play to avoid any kind of injuries.

When would we see Jeev win a major?
Ah… That is something even I am trying to achieve for a long time. I played in Majors previously and that will help me. Now, I am more confident of doing well. But I really want to do well at the Majors. It’s my childhood dream after all.

This interview was done before the start of the UBS Hong Kong Open