London: Jeev Milkha Singh caught the last train to the Royal Lytham and St Anne’s after booking a berth to the British Open with a dramatic victory in the play-off at the Scottish Open. The 40-year-old, a former top-50 player, finished his flawless round of 67 to become the clubhouse leader and then waited for more than an hour tucking into his favourite chocolate cake and sipping tea to suddenly find himself in the play-off with Francesco Molinari at Castle Stuart.
Even Jeev did not expect anything dramatic as Marc Warren, three ahead at one stage, seemed to be running away. “Frankly, I think I never expected myself to be in a playoff. I was just enjoying a cup of tea and some chocolate cake. I said, it’s an hour I’ve got, my flight is at 8:30pm out of Aberdeen. I thought I would see the finish and then leave for the airport,” he explained.
“As the chocolate cake and tea were going down, it got very exciting on the golf course and I was fortunate to get into a playoff.
It was a win that brought Jeev a huge bag of goodies, none better than a berth in the British Open beginning next Thursday at the Royal Lytham and St. Annes. It was virtually the last chance for anyone to qualify.
Jeev’s fourth win on the European Tour makes him the most successful Indian on it, and also moved him inside the top-15 on the European Tour, making it easier for him to make the season-ending Race to Dubai event.
His world ranking is now inside 90 and he could by the end of the year realistically look at breaking into the top-50, which could see him return to the coveted Masters next April.
“It’s all the icing on the cake. I think the chocolate cake was fantastic. I think I have to have it every single time I finish my round, and a cup of tea,” he added with a laugh.
Jeev last won in December 2008 in Japan and his last win on the European Tour came at the Austrian Open in June 2008. At the end of the fourth round on Sunday, Jeev, who had started the day five behind the leader, felt he was a couple of shots short despite the fine 67. “I thought I left myself a few shots short of getting into a playoff. But the golfing gods were kind to me and I got into a playoff and I won it,” said Jeev.
The Chandigarh golfer was also happy he was injury free. “The main thing is that I’m injury free and it’s given me a lot of confidence, and I think this win has come at the right time.
“It’s great for Indian and Asian golf and will be a big boost,” he added.
Woods paired with Garcia
Meanwhile, it was announced that Tiger Woods is in the same group with Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose for the British Open. The field is 157 players, one over the limit. Two players would have to withdraw for the first alternate, Ben Crane, to get into the championship.
Woods comes to the British Open confident in his game and aware of the dangers on offer at Royal Lytham, where dense rough, 205 pot bunkers and rain will test the 14-time major champion.
While he disappointed in the majors after his three wins this year, sharing 40th at the Masters and 21st at the US Open, he was a 36-hole co-leader last month at the US Open and is playing as well as he has since before his infamous sex scandal.
“Each British Open has its own little quirks. You can have so many different weather conditions. You just don’t know. That’s one of the unique things about the British Open and why it’s my favourite major championship.” (Agencies)