'Maybe I am not destined to win a tournament yet'
Despite enjoying the most fruitful year of his career, the scene hasn't been all that rosy in terms of results for ace Indian golfer Chiranjeev Milkha Singh.
The 27-year-old Chandigarh pro was the first Indian to make it to the top 200 in the world rankings, rising as high as 142 in mid-July. He also became the first Indian to break into the top 100 in the world money-earners' list and had two top three finishes on the European PGA tour. Currently, he is ranked 36th in the Volvo Order of Merit, with earnings amounting to over 197,000 euros.
But among all the highs have come numbing blows. Like losing in the play-off for the prestigious Kirin Open title on the Japanese PGA tour; failing to get a direct berth in the US Open, after losing a play-off on the third hole of the sectional qualifier, and then missing the Biritish Open by one stroke. Twice he led in European PGA tour events, only to finish among the thirties.
On a brief visit to Delhi recently, the champion golfer talked about the euphoria and heartbreak of the PGA tour. Excerpts from the conversation:
Looking back at the year so far and the success that you'v had, what are your feelings?
Everyone has been telling me I have had a great year so far. I disagree. The way I have been playing in the last few months, I should have had much better results. But invariably, I have been making some stupid mistakes and losing out on excellent opportunities.
Last year you said you were having three great rounds and one bad, which was preventing you from winning tournaments. This year, you had a nine on a par-4 during the Irish Open, when leading the tournament last month. You also had a seven on another par-4 during the Campaq European Open when among the top three. Would you say that you are now having four good rounds, but a couple of holes are stopping you from winning events?
I think you can say that. I consider it a great improvement from last year. But to win a tournament, you have to put together four great rounds. I am still a little short of that. And these couple of holes are huring me a lot. I feel so miserable after such a round that it is not even funny. It is easy for others to say that you will get another chance and that tomorrow will be another day. But I know how bad it feels when you let go such an opportunity.
Would you blame it on luck?
No doubt luck plays an important role. Like on the play-off hole of the Kirin Cup. I hit a great drive which missed the fairway by about four inches. But as luck would have it, the ball collected a lot of mud and my approach shot was a flier which missed the green.
Maybe, I am not destined to win a tournament yet. I can blame it on luck, but I will rather blame myself. In golf, even players like Tiger Woods and David Duval are bound to make mistakes. But you become a great player only when you can minimise the damage done by such a mistake.
You started the 1999 European PGA Tour season with a bang, with a third and second place finish in the South African Open and the South African PGA championship. How did you feel then?
Thanks to those two tournaments, I earned enough to keep my card for the next season. That should have eased a lot of pressure from me. But what happened was exactly opposite. My own expectations have risen so much that I am creating even more to pressure on myself.
Would you say you have adjusted to the European PGA Tour?
Definitely. Last year I was anxious as to what would happen if I missed a few cuts. 'Will I be able to sustain myself financially?' I thought. In that regard, I have been lucky to find a sponsor like Hero Honda. Once the thoughts about money are eased, you can concentrate on your game. And I must add here that Hero Honda have been a great sponsor for me. Not only financially, but Pawan Kant Munjal, chairman-cum-managing director, himself came to watch me play during three different tournaments in Europe and walked with me throughout the 18 holes. That kind of support is hard to find.
What are your future plans?
After a week's rest, I am going back to Europe for five tournaments. The priority right now is to finish in the top 20 in the
year-ending Order of Merit. That would give me a direct berth to all the four majors next year. I know I can do it. All it will take is two good finishes. I am not concentrating on the US PGA Tour right now because I want to win at least one title in Europe before shifting focus to the US. Apart from this, I will play a few events on the Asian PGA Tour after the European PGA Tour gets over. I also have received a couple of invitations to play in Japan after my Kirin Open performance. I am also very excited about India's participation in the Alfred Dunhill Cup.
Tell us about the Alfred Dunhill Cup?
I think there can be no better indication of India's rising stock in world golf than getting invited to play in the Alfred
Dunhill Cup. It is a unique team event and I am having a very good feeling about it. The last time we played there, we beat a very strong Scotland team which included Colin Montgomerie and Andrew Colthart. I am sure we can repeat our performance.
Have you found a new coach yet?
Yes, I have started working with this guy called Sam Frost. He is the brother of renowned golfer David Frost. He is currently working with five EPGA Tour players including me. I have a very peculiar kind of swing, but I didn't want to change it much at this stage of my career. The best thing about Sam is he undestands my situation. He has been working around my present swing without changing it much. And he has created a lot of positive energy around me. I am also working with a sports psychologist, Dr Khan. He has also helped me think more positively.
What are the areas you need to work on regarding your game?
Thankfully, my putting has been very good in the last few months. Touch wood. That was my biggest nemesis earlier. My iron play is also immaculate. But in the last few tournaments, I have been pretty erratic off the tee. I will have to rectify that.
Do you think other Indian players can follow you to such dizzy heights?
Why not? I think we have some very good potential. The domestic Wills Sport golf tour has more than 25 tournaments which can make any pro battle-hardened. All they need to do is broaden their horizons a bit and the world will be theirs.
A few words for your fellow players on the Wills Sport Indian Golf Tour?
All I can say is I am waiting for some of you to join me in Europe. We had a fun time together here. Let's now have some more fun in Europe.
UNI
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