Golf | I will hopefully play for eight more years, expects Jeev Milkha Singh

01/06/2019

Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh believes that he has still a lot of game left in him and wants to continue for another eight years. The veteran also praised the performance by other Indian youngsters and said that they have the ability to win a major event this year.

At an age of 47, Jeev Milkha Singh is one of the finest golfers India has ever produced. He started at the age of 22 as a professional sportsperson but has still got a lot left in him and claimed that he still wants to continue for another eight years. Jeev is the first Indian golfer to win four trophies on the European tour.

"I want to play, hopefully, for another eight years. 55 taktohkhelenge (I’ll play), because I feel that if I stay fit, I can continue till 60. Right now, when I am 50, I will be on the senior Tour and if I stay fit, will continue. Mera pension fund hai bhai. That should not go. I have been a professional golfer for 27 years, now, time for some pension," Jeev Milkha told TOI.

The champion golfer lauded the efforts of the current Indian golfers and stated that they have a strong mentality to take on some of the best in the world. He also asserted that the Indian golfers have a chance of winning a major tournament in 2019.

"The future of Indian golf is bright. It's great to see these young kids coming up, they have got a good mind, they are strong enough mentally to take on the world and play with the best players. I have seen a lot of good Indian players. Shubhankar is playing really well. Then there is Anirban, Shiv (Kapur), Gaganjeet (Bhullar), SSP (Chaurasia), Khalin (Joshi), Chikka, there are so many good players. One week when things click, they can win a major championship. It could happen this year. Every Indian golfer has it in him," the Indian golfer explained.

"That's the word I would use. Shiv (Kapoor) won three times last year, Gaganjeet (Bhullar) won, Anirban is doing well in on the PGTI, Shubhankar won two times and he won the Asian Order of Merit and Khalin Joshi won. I can name so many players who have done well for Indian golf. And golf is such a sport, there are so many tournaments, a guy is playing 30 tournaments and if he wins one, it's like really good. If you win one tournament in 30 weeks, it's like scoring a double century.”

Speaking about the impact of the internet in increasing the popularity of the sport, Jeev said, “When I was starting off in golf, there was no internet. We used to wait for video tapes after three weeks of Masters Championship to watch it. I used to be starving to get those video tapes. Now, everything is available on a click. So, kids have a lot of knowledge about golf these days through the internet. Another thing which has helped golf become popular amongst the youngsters is that there are more golf courses all over India.”

"The only thing which is lacking is public golf courses and public driving ranges. Tomorrow, if somebody wants to start playing golf, he or she should be given that opportunity. That's when this game is going to go to the masses.”

Golf | I will hopefully play for eight more years, expects Jeev Milkha Singh

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