No time to celebrate Scottish Open win: Jeev
Jeev Milkha Singh
Coming off his win at the Scottish Open, India’s top golfer Jeev Milkha Singh said competing with some of the best golfers in the world was more of a mental battle.
“At this level, it is all mental, it’s very important to put up a good score and just hang around. You put up a good score on the last day, you are in with a good chance,” 40-year-old Jeev was quoted as saying.
Talking about his Scottish Open win, he said, “You got top players of the world, you wouldn’t expect them to come and give you a chance for the playoff. Conditions were tough, really tough, cold and windy. I knew it was a tough day. But then you got to keep your nerves and be mentally tough”.
Jeev sparked a double celebration after beating Italian Francesco Molinari in a play-off to win the Scottish Open and earned a spot at the British Open at the Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The win was Jeev’s fourth in an European Tour event. His earlier wins were the Volvo China in 2006, Volvo Masters of Europe in 2006 and the Austrian Open in 2008.
Recalling his win, Jeev said the conditions were cold, almost freezing.
“I finished my round, had some chocolate tea. We were packing up, but waiting in the players’ lounge. I was watching on the TV.
“He (Molinari) is 20-under, I am 17-under, but golfing Gods were on my side. I suddenly realised that I needed to warm up, got into my golfing shoes, warmed up, played few shots and off for the playoff,” he said.
At the British Open, Jeev said he felt he was tired and did not play his usual aggressive game.
“I am a very aggressive player, I think I played really conservative, I should have been more aggressive.
“I just felt for the British Open I was mentally very tired after the win. Focus wasn’t there; after a win you are on a high, it’s tough to get focus back,” he added.
Jeev rated the Scottish Open as one of the best victories of his career, the other being at the Volvo China earlier.
“It was one of my best wins. It is a big event. It gives me a three-year exemption on the European Tour,” he said.
Jeev said he has put on hold celebrations to mark his win in view of the back-to-back tournaments he is playing.
“I have not really not celebrated. I was in London after the win, getting ready for another championship. After coming back from the PGA, I think I will celebrate then.”
Jeev has a packed schedule up ahead including WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio in August, for which he will leave today after a short break to be with his family.
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