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Thursday, June 18, 2009

18 Questions With ... Jeev Milkha Singh

Jeev Milkha Singh is playing in his third U.S. Open, his second at Bethpage. The 37-year-old from Chandigarh, India, has played mostly on the European Tour, but has been playing more in the U.S. in 2009. He made the cut in the 2002 Open, shooting 75-75-75-75--300, to finish tied for 62nd.

In 2002 you probably weren’t as well known as you are now. How different are you and your game from when you were here in 2002?

JEEV MILKHA SINGH: Quite different, I think. Things have changed quite a bit. I’ve become a better player and I reached the Top-50 in the world.

How about the golf course? How is it different?

SINGH: In 2002 it was much tougher than the way it’s set up this year. I think it’s for the better, the way it’s set up this time.

Do you mean the graduated rough and somewhat wider fairways?

SINGH: Yes. Plus, what’s helping players this week is the rain. The greens are softer. Normally U.S. Open greens are firm and hard and the pins are tucked. You always play away from the flags. But this week, the greens being softer, you can at least go for some flags.

Where did you stay and what did you do when you were here in 2002?

SINGH: I stayed in one of the Marriott hotels, about 15 minutes from the course. I found a lot of good restaurants, an Indian, a good Japanese. I’m doing the same this year, too.

Same places?

SINGH: No, not the same.

So everything’s just a little different?

SINGH: Yes.

You and Henrik Stenson are among the few players on Tour with a female caddie. What’s your caddie’s name?

SINGH: Janet Squire.

How did your relationship come about?

SINGH: Last year before the [Shell] Houston Open, Jan came out and worked for me and we did well. She worked at the Masters, too, and we got along. After that we won four times. I’m pretty comfortable with her. She’s very positive on the bag. She’s been on the European Tour for the last 20 years, so I’ve been seeing her and meeting her. She’s worked for a lot of players.

There are a lot more foreign players are in our Open (69 in 2009), and in the United States on the PGA Tour. You’re spending more time here, too, aren’t you?

SINGH: Yes, it’s an international sport now, and it’s showing in all the big championships. It’s great to see that.

You’re spending more time here, too, aren’t you?

SINGH: Yes, I am. We want golf to be a global sport and I hope it’s also included in the Olympics. To see players from every country come out and play and play in the big championships, I think it’s fantastic.

Will you stay in the United States after this?

SINGH: Maybe. I’m injured right now so I don’t know whether I’m even going to play next week or not. I’ve got an intercostal muscle which is strained. It’s hurting me quite a bit. I hadn’t touched a club in the six days before this week, but went out in the last three to four days and tried to recover to make the most out of it this week.

Where is the injury?

SINGH: Between the ribs on the right side, and it hurts quite bad when you breathe. That’s the tough part. You can’t do anything, you’ve just got to rest it.

When did this occur?

SINGH: The European Open two weeks ago on Sunday, hitting a shot out of the rough, I strained it and after that I got a CT scan last week in New York and I thought that my rib was gone. But everything is fine with the rib, it’s just the muscle.

And there’s nothing can you do?

SINGH: Nothing. I’ve got to stop breathing, they say. (Laughter)

How long will you have to take off to rest it?

SINGH: I don’t know how long it’s going to be, but I’m going to give it a go and see. It was pretty good for the six days I took off. Until I came back.

What happened when you started hitting balls again?

SINGH: Just comes to square one. I’m not giving it enough time to heal. Hopefully after this, depending how it goes, I’m going to make a decision.

What do you like most about this golf course?

SINGH: I think that of all the major championships, I like the U.S. Open. This golf course is a test of patience and I love playing tougher courses. There are not too many birdies out there. You just have to hang in and grind it out, and that’s the beauty of it.

What shot do you think you bring to this course that’s really beneficial for you this week?

SINGH: I’m a fade player, so I like that. I’m basically a good driver of the ball, and that’s the key out here, to drive it well. Things are easier for you if you drive it well.