Pressure cured my Open agony

As Jeev Milkha Singh watched the action unfold at the 137th Open Championship in Royal Birkdale on his television, the pain in his injured right ankle almost matched the pain of his bruised ego.

To say the least, it seemed unfair that a player ranked 10th in the current European Tour Money List, and someone who had one win and two top-10 finishes in his last five starts, had to sit out of the only Major played on European soil.

But as he watched the exploits of his childhood hero Greg Norman, and the triumph of Padraig Harrington, who played with an injured wrist, the frustration slowly gave way to determination.

Less than a week after the Open, the Jumeirah Golf Estates brand ambassador literally hopped across to Japan, endured excruciating pain in his ankle that even required help from an on-course physio on the final day, and won the Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup by two shots for his second international victory in the past seven weeks.

"I just cannot describe how frustrating it was to sit and watch the Open on TV. Also, Royal Birkdale was proving to be a tough course, and I relish playing in tough conditions. I was hitting the ball so well in the weeks leading up to the tournament, I just know I would have done well there," says the 36-year-old Jeev.

"But there was nothing I could do about it. There are various ways of qualifying for the Open, and if I did not make it, only I was to blame.

"The silver lining for me was that I actually got some time off, which was good for my ankle. And to see Tiger Woods winning the US Open almost on one foot, and then Padraig winning the Open with his wrist injury, I know that if these guys can win Majors with injuries, even I can."

Jeev, who is playing the PGA Championship in Oakland Hills next week, says the Sega Sammy Cup is perhaps one of the best victories of his career. But not because he had to come from four shots behind on the final day, or that he overcame such pain in his sprained right ankle that he had to call for on-course medical help after nine holes.

"What makes this win special is the fact that I made a 20-footer, slick downhill putt for a birdie on the final hole, when I really needed to make that to win the tournament," says Jeev, who is also supported by 'Golf in Dubai' and the Qatar-based steel company Panceltica.

"The fact that I could deliver under pressure, and that I could pull off a shot when that's exactly what was required, that makes me very happy.

"That really is the quality that separates men from boys. Champion golfers are those who can do it most of the times, and Tiger is what he is because he does it almost every time."

Despite two wins on two major tours in less than two months, Jeev has only risen to 66th in the world. His stated goal for the season is to get back into the top-50 of the world, a position which ensures entry into almost every Major tournament next year.

"I am not too bothered about my slow rise, even though I would love to be in the top-50 right now. Like Vijay Singh, I am also paying the price of playing too many tournaments. The way the world rankings system works, it is not too kind to guys like us. But I just love tournament golf and it is something that I just cannot change," says Jeev, who has played 77 official events in the past two years – the highest among the top-1,000 players in the world. The next busiest player in the world is Jeev's best friend Daniel Chopra (71), while no other player has played more than 61 tournaments.

While there are a few things, such as the world golf rankings that are giving Jeev a bit of heartache, 2008 has proved to be a great year for the Indian ace. Not only did he start winning again, he also got married to childhood friend Kudrat, and signed a lucrative sponsorship contract with Jumeirah Golf Estates.

"I think one of the main reasons I am doing well this year is the fact that I have a more balanced lifestyle. Life on tour can be hard and lonely, and I am really lucky to have someone as understanding as Kudrat around me all the time.

"Earlier, when I was traveling alone, I could carry over the anger of playing a bad round into my hotel room and brood about things until I went to sleep. Now, I am aware that if I am in a bad mood, I am going to upset her as well. I think I have become a much more relaxed person now. And you know, I must thank Dubai for giving me two excellent sponsors – Golf in Dubai and Jumeirah Golf Estates (JGE).

"As for the JGE and Leisurecorp, I think I am fortunate to have them as my sponsors. What they are doing with their project in Dubai and the recent sponsorship arrangement with the European Tour is mind-boggling. Everyone is talking about the Race to Dubai and the Dubai World Championship next year, and they are now also the sponsors of the South African Open and the owners of Turnberry, the host venue of next year's Open. I truly feel honoured and proud to sport their logo on my chest.

"What really makes them a unique company is that they have done so much for the game, but they have remained very understated. I have found them to be extremely professional and they are very much into the nitty-gritties, but they are lovely people to work with and such great friends.

"Just take a look at the new physio van that Leisurecorp sponsors on the European Tour. It really is the lifeblood of the Tour. I know how much the players appreciate this contribution. And yet, nowhere will you find the name of Leisurecorp written on the van. I think it is such a classy way of doing things. I guess they believe that there is no better, or effective, publicity than word-of-mouth publicity."

Jeev is now looking forward to the PGA Championship – his second Major of the year after having finished a creditable tied 26th at the Masters, for which he had received a special invitation.

"I have never played the Oakland Hills before. Even though it seems like a good idea to tee up blind [Jeev won both in Austria and Japan without even one practice round], I want to be sharp and would love to play two or three rounds before the tournament.

"My confidence is high, and I just hope to be physically fit."