After seven years, Jeev Milkha Singh is back for the $1.5 million Hero Indian Open golf that he considers a fifth ‘Major’ on the calendar. The country's richest sporting event begins at the Delhi Golf Club here on Thursday.
The last time Jeev played at the Open, here in 2008, he produced hisbest finish — eighth in an elite field. His last appearance at the Delhi Golf Club was in the 2012 Panasonic Open. He is eager to get his record straight at what he calls a “course with a lot of history.”
Plagued by a finger injury and later with a troublesome right shoulder for the better part of the year, the 44-year old revealed he was now hitting the ball as far as he was as a 30-year-old.
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“My short game is worrying me. It always was the better part of my game. But I am sure it is all going to come back together.”
Jeev, who this season has missed ‘cut’ in four out of six events, including the last three, was hopeful of getting the ‘scar tissues’ out of the system this week.
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“When you make a comeback from injury, it is more mental than physical. You begin to doubt your abilities and that’s tough.
“The confidence becomes low and you have to start from scratch. But the way I played in Abu Dhabi championship and Qatar Masters (in January), I am very happy.”
Jeev has put the winning score this week to about “8-12 under” on a course reduced to par-71 for this event.
“Mark my words, the 14th hole used to be a ‘birdie-hole’ but now as a par-4, it could well be a bogey hole. Also the seventh hole is going to test our skills since it has become 40 yards longer.”
Fond memories The event’s highest ranked player at 39, Anirban Lahiri had fond memories of the Open. “My first memory of the Indian Open is walking in Calcutta Golf Club when I was 12.
“Arjun Atwal won that event and I still remember some of the shots he hit. I was just a kid and I didn’t even play golf seriously! I thought to myself that it would be so great to be one of those guys,” said the three-time winner at the DGC.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, the prize-catch of this year’s Open, will be looking for his 22nd title on the European Tour.
“I am looking forward to the week at the Delhi Golf Club. I played a few holes this morning and it is an old style course where you do not have to hit the ball 300 yards off every tee.
“It is much more important to be accurate from the tee and to keep the ball in the fairway because the rough can be very difficult to play from and you can get a lot of fliers,” said Jimenez.