‘I plan to play for the next full decade or more’

International golfer Jeev Milkha singh with IGPL Invitationl Colombo Trophy and his son Harjai Milkha Singh, winner of IGU Order of Merit (Boys) at their residence in Sector 8 Chandigarh on Tuesday. Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh

Last month when 20-time international winner 54-year-old Jeev Milkha Singh won the IGPL Invitational at Colombo, Sri Lanka, it was Singh’s first title since he won the Scottish Open in 2012. Singh, who was once ranked 28th in the world rankings and remains one of India’s most successful golfers, plays on the Legends Tour, the senior European Tour as well as Senior Japan tour apart from Asian Tour and IGPL circuit.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Singh spoke about winning his first title in 13 years, golf career after the age of 50, his plans for the coming year and advice for young golfers. Edited excerpts: Well, during the IGPL Invitational in Colombo, where my son Harjai too was competing, I told my son, “Look out for me.” I am not out of the form or experience. And to win the title among such a field consisting of youngsters as well as experienced professionals at such an age is a special moment in my career. IGPL sees a new format and to compete in the format last year has been a refreshing phase for me and the title in Colombo gives me another motivational push in my career. There was a time in 2021, when I lost both my parents to Covid-19 that I wanted to quit the sport but then I started playing the game again just for my parents. I had started golf seeing my father play golf and the restart was like another birth for me in the sport.

You came close to winning on the European Tour’s Legends Tour with the second place finish in the MCD Mauritius Legends last year. Tell us about playing on the senior tour as well as balancing your time between the Senior Japan Tour, Legends Tour, Asian Tour as well as IGPL.

Well, I had been playing the Senior Tour for the last three years. And the focus has been to make the balance between what I can do at this age. After 50, one faces all kinds of challenges like muscle loss and everyday is a new day, where one does not know what kind of injury one can face. So my focus has been to remain fit. Yoga and meditation have played a huge part in my life to keep me going. I know I cannot hit the ball as well as the youngsters so the focus is also to try to do course management according to my strength and to also play on courses, which are suited to my game at this age.

What are your plans for this year?

I plan to play close to 32-34 weeks this year. I will be playing in the Senior PGA Championships and Senior British Open, two of the Senior Majors apart from playing in 15 tournaments on the Legends Tour. I also plan to play in 12 tournaments on the Senior Japan Tour apart from a couple of Asian Tour tournaments. I will also be playing in the IGPL League as well as IGPL Tournaments in the year. I plan to play for the next full decade or more, and I believe if I can win a Senior Major in my career, it would be a befitting end to my golfing career. My Son Harjai has been competing as an amateur along with me on the IGPL circuit and I often joke with my wife Kudrat that she was a travelling wife earlier and now she is also a travelling mother managing things for my son. But then golf is all what I aspired to play all my life and that’s what I am doing at this age too.

What is your advice to Indian youngsters as well as emerging talent?

My advice to the youngsters is to always believe in your abilities and always aspire for more. I played on the Japan Tour and also on the European Tour and won on those tours apart from the Asian Tour and winning in Japan as well as the European Tour gave me a lot of confidence. When I was studying in the USA, I played in windy conditions and that taught me to handle European conditions too. Yes, Europe has tough weather conditions but then youngsters should never fear the conditions and when one is on the golf course, one should have the belief to give Europe’s and world’s top golfers a run for their money.

Lastly, what keeps you going for wins at this age too?

Well, one thing which my father Milkha Singh taught me was to follow whatever sport I opted for with passion as well as excellence. And he always made me understand the importance of discipline. And one of the biggest lessons he taught me was of being humble. He would share how a sportsperson’s life is never the same, highs and lows come. But what should remain constant is his willpower and the dedication towards training. And that’s what I aspire to do or train for.