Jeev readies for a difficult homecoming at DGC

NEW DELHI: Unlike other home-bound heroes, country's top golfer Jeev Milkha Singh is not anticipating a red carpet welcome when he tees off in the Indian Open.
    
Instead, he is bracing for the treacherous greens that would greet him on his return to the Delhi Golf Course (DGC), which will bare its fangs during the Asian Tour event later this month.

In its preparation for the Indian Masters, country's first European Tour event scheduled next year, DGC has received a facelift, which stretches it beyond the 7,000-yard mark and golfers would first feel the pinch in the October 11-14 event.

Three crucial holes have undergone massive changes, including the par-three seventh which was stretched from a modest 182 to a monstrous 230-yard. This means the hitherto benign course would cut down on its largess and sub-par rounds would no more be just up for grabs.
   
Jeev, however, is not losing his sleep, for hostility often brings out the best in him and he feels while premium would be on precision, course management would be the key.
   
"I think this is going to be very challenging and course management would make a lot of difference," he explained.

"Traditionally at DGC, you always have to be very accurate off the tee and now that they have added more length, it would be even more difficult," Jeev told PTI before flying out for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

The last time he trod on DGC's well-manicured grass was in 2003 and since then, his rather unorthodox swing, which prompted chum Daniel Chopra to dub him the "Indian Jim Furyk", was more on display in Asian, Japan and European Tours as the golfing gypsy plied his trade in virtually every corner of the world during his staggering 40-weeks-a-year schedule.

Coming off a dream season last year, which yielded four titles apart from a career-high ranking of 37, Jeev is aware that he would have to shoulder the additional burden of expectations playing at home but said he would have a go at the title that is missing from his impressive cupboard.
   
"I'm looking forward to it. As of now, I'm going to Dunhill and it would be freezing cold there. From there, I'll be back in the warmth of Delhi and playing at home after a long gap is something I'm excited about."

On his personal form this season, Jeev, sounds humble and describes it as "just average."
   
"I'm not too unhappy so far. Actually, it's not too bad but nothing great either. Of course I can't compare it with last year when I had a dream season."

But things might change soon as Jeev believes he has diagnosed what plagued his show this year.

"I need to take care of a few things. Putting is surely an area but more than that, I need to address issues that are more on the mental side," he said.

Jeev also makes it clear that he would not go for the US PGA Tour qualification this year, rather see where he goes from his 12 starts on the European Tour.

Following his fairytale season last year, Jeev was nominated - first golfer to be so -- for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award even though it was shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu who went on to win country's highest sports honour.

Asked if he felt hurt, Jeev oozed both grace and confidence and said, "The man who won it is a world champion and he deserved it. And my turn will definitely come in the future."

He is ecstatic with the golfing scenario in India with a slew of prestigious events coming to the country and feels it's the recognition of the sterling show by the men of his tribe.

"Indian Open going strong and then you have a European Tour event and Johnnie Walker Classic is also here, it's really fantastic."

"I think this is a recognition that we thoroughly deserve. The top Indian pros are doing extremely well wherever they are playing and this is an acknowledgement of the fact."
   
Admittedly a movie buff, Jeev says apart from changing the face of the game in the country, the top pros would one day inspire a "Chak De India" on golf as well.
   
"I watched that movie, not on DVD but in a theatre in New York. You can't believe the audience response, it was so overwhelming. It's a well-made movie, which would help hockey. Wish they made similar movies on golf as well," he signed off.