Asia is ready to take on the world and the future will see a lot of golfers from the continent winning major championships, said Jeev Milkha Singh.
The Indian golfer, the son of the legendary Milkha Singh, the amiable, self-deprecatory athlete who used to call a spade a spade, gave the prescient warning just like South African legend Gary Player, who made a bold prediction that Chinese would dominate the game very soon.
Jeev is one of a kind. They don't come often these days. In this age when relationships are made for a reason and would not even last a season, he was here in Bangkok to meet and celebrate the New Year with his friends from Bishop Cotton School in India.
"We thought we can catch up with lot of Cottoners for old times sake. It is good to see all my school friends doing very well in Thailand. My school gave us good values and got us ready to face the world," he said.
The man with 22 wins worldwide said the future of Asian golf is very bright.
"Asia is the only region that is going to grow. And the love for the game is a lot amongst the golfers. Specially, the top business people play golf in Asia and they feel strongly for the Asian Tour and support it," he said.
Jeev with his unique swing is a freak phenomenon, a kind of a gatecrasher, who accidentally stepped into the realm of golf where players spend hours, months perfecting and fine-tuning their swing.
He reminisces of the Canadian golfer Moe Norman, who had a peculiar swing but was regarded as the straightest hitter ever.
"It's all in the mind," Jeev said. "The most important thing is the belief system. I think you could have any type of swing, but If you can repeat it, that is the key in golf. You may have the world's best swing, but if you don't have the belief and trust in that, you cannot hit the ball the way you wanted, you can't be a professional golfer. I had the belief that If I swing this way, it would work for me. I am able to hit good shots."
In a way he surprised the sceptics and even his ardent followers.
"When I started winning, they understood that this guy can repeat it. After you start winning tournaments, you get the respect from the fellow pros," he said.
Unlike other pros, who squat and some times lie on the greens, he has a distinctive way of reading the line of his putt.
"I have a good knack for reading the greens. So you get on the green, you know where the slope is. I can see the putt better by standing. One of a kind? An old school as you may call it," he laughed.
He is friends with many Thai pros and has a high opinion of Kiradech Aphibarnrat with whom he partnered to beat Nicolas Colsaerts and Marcel Siem of Europe in the Royal Trophy in Brunei six years ago.
"I have been watching him grow, his game grow. He is a good driver of the ball. He has got a good mind. In golf, the most important thing is the mind. He handles himself very well when under pressure. He got the desire to win. He is humble and he delivers it every time," he said.
Jeev feels the secret of success of Thais, especially Thongchai Jaidee, Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant, lies in their diet.
"It is amazing to see the guys are so fit. It is in their diet or the Thai massages they get. They are so flexible and fit. Look at at Mr Boonchu Ruangkit. I call him Mr Golf of Thailand. He took golf out of Thailand and made Thailand famous for golf worldwide. I played lot of golf with Boonchu. I used to look up to him. I think he has done an amazing job. He has given the right guidance to the youngsters as to how to go about," he said.
He says that there are many stars emerging from Thailand.
"Phachara Khongwatmai is making waves. He is unbelievable. Pavit [Tangkamolprasert] is another talented young man. I can name so many. This two kids stand out. Their game is so good," Jeev said.
He thinks that the Indians and Thais are dominating the game in Asia. "The Thais and Indians push each other.
If you see one week, an Indian will win and the next week a Thai player will win. I think it is fantastic to see that.
"Thai professional golfers have a great system in place. Full marks to Khun Santi Bhirombhakdi, who is the owner of Singha Corporation. They have built a very good system for amateurs, professionals, ladies, everybody in fact," he said.
Jeev is planning to play at least 30-32 tournaments on the Asian Tour, starting with the Singapore Open from Jan 15-20.
He says he is as excited to tee up as he was when he started as a pro some 25 years ago.
"My goal is to play on Asian Tour for the next 10 years. I want to compete with the youngsters. It pushes me. My goal is to win a tournament before I become a senior. Prove to these boys that age is just a number. And if you have the will, the desire and the heart, you will win. Then after that if I stay fit, say 55, I want to play the main tour and also the senior tour like what Prayad is doing," he said.
At 46, his spirit is still young.
