Sport

Win will bring more recognition

Chandigarh: Jeev Milkha Singh, who added another feather in his cap by winning the Singapore Open, said the Asian Order of Merit title will help Indian golfers in getting recognition at the top level and boost the confidence of young players back home.

Jeev, who on Sunday put up a special performance at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore to claim the Singapore Open — his third title of the year and sixth on the Asian Tour — said the “golfing gods helped him in the crunch situation.”

Asked that he was now assured of the Asian Order of Merit title, he said over phone, “it will make things easier for me as I would get direct entries to many top tournaments and playing in big events will give me confidence.”

Meanwhile, the win has made him the Asian Tour’s first single-season millionaire. The first prize, worth $792,500, has raised his season total to $1.4 million. That’s $655,000 ahead of second-place Mark Brown of New Zealand.

He also dislodged Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee as the leader in career earnings in Asia. Before this season, the 36-year-old’s career earnings were $1.35 million, including $591,000 while winning the 2006 Order of Merit.

Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han was full of praise for Jeev.

“The victory cemented Jeev’s stature as a truly world-class player and the manner in which he won at Sentosa Gold Club underlined his growing credentials in the world of golf,” said Han.

“Over the years, Jeev has been a wonderful ambassador for the Asian Tour, winning titles in Europe and Japan this year as well.

“Through the Asian Tour, Jeev has grown to become a terrific player and I am convinced he will go on to win many other big championships and also win Major events in the years to come.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Jeev as our first million-dollar man in a single season on the Asian Tour,” said Han.

On his stunning win in Singapore, which came playing against top players Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els, the 38-year-old Jeev said, “It was an excellent performance. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was really excited about playing against the world’s top players and winning the tournament in the end is a great treat for me”.

He, however, rates his performance at the 2006 Volvo Masters as his best.

“Winning the title was not on my mind yesterday. I went into the final round with a positive mindset. I was looking to give my best and in the end I pulled it off,” Jeev said, adding he could play a lot better than what he did on Sunday.

“I am looking forward to much better wins and performances in the coming years,” he said.

Jeev said he would now be flying out to Hong Kong to play there.

He is also looking forward to play in the World Cup Open in China this month and in the U.S. Masters next year.

Jeev feels he and Jyoti Randhawa stand a good chance of winning the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Jeev is back among the elites again with the latest World rankings putting the Indian pro on the 46th place after his sensational triumph in the Singapore Open.

As a result of his triumph, which also virtually assured him the Asian Tour Order of Merit title, Jeev leapfrogged 14 spots to World No. 46. — Agencies

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