Dec 26: It’s been a long and tough year for India’s premier golfer and PGTI member Jeev Milkha Singh in the 2007 calendar year. Ranked 79 in the World Jeev had a gruelling schedule by having played more than 40 weeks of high-intensity golf. He’s been roaming across the globe in order to participate in some of the most lucrative tournaments on the US PGA Tour, the European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour. Now he is back at home for a well-deserved break. He shared his year 2007 golfing experiences in a freewheeling chat with PGTI.
EXCERPTS OF THE INTERVIEW
How would you compare your performance in 2007 with your dream run of 2006?
It’s been a very average year since I had raised the bar for myself after my dream run in 2006. I think I was trying too hard as there were more expectations and pressure compared to the previous year. Once you have achieved something great, there is a human tendency to believe that you can do it again. But it does not work that way, especially in golf. Every individual goes through all kinds of phases, good, average and bad. At least I know that 2007 was by no means a bad year for me, it was an average year. Nonetheless, I am playing well once again and am looking forward to 2008.
What are the positives that you have drawnfrom 2007?
I ended the year on a high with two top-10 finishes (tied 3rd at the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup and tied 7th at Dunlop Phoenix) on the Japan Golf Tour. Things now seem to be falling back into place. I feel I am getting back into my groove. I’m feeling comfortable after coming back on the leader-board in Japan and am hitting the ball well. My performance at the US Masters was also highly satisfying. Even though I was nervous going into the tournament, I think I managed myself very well that week. The two most important lessons that I have learnt in the last one year have been the need to manage myself better and not to be too hungry for a win.
You’ve had a gruelling schedule of more than 40 weeks of competitive golf. How demanding has it been physically as well as mentally?
It’s very tough to constantly shuttle from one part of the world to the other. It takes a toll on your body. You are also vulnerable to injuries. But its part of my job and playing golf around the world is something I love doing.
What kind of a fitness regimen do you follow in order to be in shape and avoid injuries?
I do yoga six days a week and weight training three days a week. I also do specific exercises for golf muscles and run about a mile everyday. To add to this I also dedicate some time for my mental training on a daily basis.
You have a short break from competitive golf at the moment. How important is this break in the context of your hectic schedule all year round?
It’s fantastic to have this break since a human being is not a machine and has to unwind at some point. I’m utilizing this time to unwind and get away from what I do all the time. After all, you have to cleanse your mind in order to come back fresh.
How big a contribution has PGTI made to Indian golf since its launch in October 2006?
I think the PGTI has done a tremendous job in promoting the game at the domestic level in India. It has also succeeded in providing an ideal platform for young golfers in the country to launch their professional careers. The standard of the sport is constantly improving due to the higher prize money. We have a very capable leader in our President Gautam Thapar who has put in his personal effort to promote the PGTI and help professional golf scale new heights in India. I’m sure the PGTI will only grow bigger from here on since more sponsors are coming on board and the prize money is increasing significantly.
Among all the PGTI members who do you think are the most likely to make an impact on the international circuit in the near future?
There are many PGTI members who could make an impact in the near future, as there is a lot of talent in India now. To name a few, there is Gaganjeet Bhullar who has made huge strides on the Asian Tour, SSP Chowrasia too has done well in his second year on the Asian Tour. Ashok Kumar also has the potential to make it big. There’s lot of depth in Indian professional golf at the moment.
Which is your next big event?
The Royal Trophy is the next big thing for me. It’s a match-play event with a format very similar to the Ryder Cup. This event will see the top eight Asian professionals being pitted against the top eight European professionals. It’s a good warm-up for the 2008 season, as most professionals will be competing after a five-week break. The last time I participated in a match-play event was also at the Royal Trophy in January 2007, so I am excited about playing in this event once again.
Courtesy: PGTI ( Professional Golf Tour of India) http://www.pgtofindia.com/
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