By IANS
New Delhi : Former Asian No.1 golfer Jeev Milkha Singh said Tuesday that patience would be the key to success at the inaugural $2.5million EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters to be played at the Lodhi Course of the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) starting Wednesday.
“It is a very demanding course and you have to be very patient on it. You have got to plan lots of shots, especially off the tee and you can’t get too aggressive,” Jeev said.
The DGC course has undergone lot of changes for the Indian Masters, which is sanctioned by European Tour, Asian Tour as well as the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). The Lodhi Course has been reduced by a par to par-71. The 14th hole, which was par-5, has been reduced to par-4 and will surely challenge the golfers.
Three tees, 3rd, 7th and 10th, have been pushed back and in the process 126 yards have been added to the course taking its length to 7,014 yards. Five bunkers have also been added taking the total number to 70. All in all, the additions and the dense bushes on both sides of the fairways is expected make the course a tricky and challenging one for the golfers.
“The main thing I find on this course is that you have to keep the ball in the play off the tee. If we can do that, everything will fall simply in line after that. Off the tee I think is the key to leave you well with a better chance of making a birdie,” said Jeev.
“Even if you hit the bush, you have to take your medicine and move on and don’t try to get aggressive. If you get aggressive, it is going to come up and bite you.”
The newly married Jeev went on to add that he has been playing well and was confident of a good show at the imposing Lodhi Course. In the last tournament, Indian Open, at the same venue he finished tied 19th last year, but that is not going to bother him much.
“I’ve played here quite a bit but I think it does give an advantage because we’ve played it so much and we know the course well. I think it does give the Indian players an advantage because especially the way the course is set up,” he said.
“I have been playing really well. I think it all comes down to putting for the four days. I am really confident with my putting. Hopefully it will be a good putting week.”
Asked, who is the favourite, Jeev said: “There are a lot of good players this week, a lot of young guns. I can’t pinpoint anybody but I think there’s going to be a lot of good players this week who are going to be contending and who are hungry to prove themselves.”
Jeev, who has been invited to play at the Augusta Masters for the second consecutive time, also hoped that European Tours events like the Indian Masters will boost the sport’s prospect in the country.
“European Tour has lot of depth and good players. The European Tour coming to India is a fantastic start and if an Indian wins, it will be like an icing on the cake,” he said.
On his expectations and focus in 2008, Jeev said: “This year it is going to the European Tour events. If I come back in the top-50 in world then I will go and play the major championships. I was really fortunate that I got an invitation for the Augusta Masters this year. It was just a surprise for me.”
Jeev will compete in the tournament alongside compatriots Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, and Arjun Atwal. The other top names present include Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng, Korea’s Lee Sung, South African Ernie Els, Irishman Darren Clarke, and David Howell of England.