The Class of India

Filed in archive Golf News on April 17, 2007

Courtesy: Reuters

If DNA contains character traits as well as physical traits, then India may produce the next great international golfer.

Lost in the media hubbub of the 2007 Masters was the presence of Jeev Milkha Singh.

While TV commentators continued to pound out the Tiger story-line, history was made and few noticed.

Jeev Milkha Singh was the first Indian golfer to tee it up at a Masters tournament.

He is also the first Indian golfer to make the cut in a major - the 2002 US Open - the first to play in Europe and Asia and the first golfer from his nation to crack the world top 50.

After round one, Singh was tied for 4th at Augusta. He went on to finish 7 over par.

Singh fought hard through 2006 to crack the top 50 and receive an invitation to this year's Masters.

He accomplished that on the back of four wins - two on the Asian Tour and two on the European Tour - last year.

So why the reference to DNA?

Jeev's father is a legend in India. Milkha Singh was a Sikh athlete who represented India at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and the '64 Games in Tokyo.

He was the Olympic record holder in the 400 metres in Rome. He won gold at the 1958 Asian Games, the 1958 Commonwealth Games and the 1962 Asian Games.

Milkha Singh lost his parents during the bloody and violent Partition of India which created the state of Pakistan and which also ultimately claimed the life of Mahatma Gandhi.

Singh senior found himself on the Pakistani side of the partition and, alone and orphaned, managed to make his way back to India with thousands of other refugees.

There's no doubt that Milkha Singh's survival of a painful and frightening childhood helped to give him the strength of will to become a champion athlete.

And his son, Jeev, appears to be following in his footsteps.

Jeev says his goal now is to earn his card for the PGA Tour. He will be playing in the remaining majors this year as well as WGC events.

Keep your eye on this guy. The other top Indian golfers, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal, hold Singh in high regard.

He's got the game to become a champion. And he's got his father's DNA.