One of Asia’s best golfing products, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, has opted out of the South African Open to ensure that he winds up his excellent season at the place where it all started.
Jeev, the defending champion, has decided to compete in the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, having already clinched the Asian Tour Order of Merit title for the second time with more than $1.4 million in winnings.
The highlight of the season was his play-off victory at the Singapore Open in November when he held off the challenges of golfing heavyweights Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson to snare the title.
He is also coming off a victory in the JT Cup in Japan, which has helped him move up to number 36 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
It was a particularly difficult tournament for Jeev because his wife had delivered their first child stillborn while in Japan. The golfer was about to withdraw from the tournament but his wife insisted that he play. He said in the Asian Tour website:
“I will dedicate this win to my wife. She is healthy now and better things are on the way. I am going to be there for the Volvo Masters of Asia. I will miss the South African Open, which is my sponsor’s event, but I want to be in Thailand to play the tournament and pick up the Order of Merit award at the gala dinner on the Sunday night.â€
Jeev, who celebrates his 37th birthday next week, has turned in some excellent performances this season.
Apart from winning the Sega Sammy Cup in Japan and the Bank Austria Open, he finished 25th at the US Masters in August and was ninth at the PGA Championship, where he was the first-round leader.
He has always considered Asia his home and has grown with the Asian Tour. Playing in the season-ending finale in Asia is a fitting way for him to end the season.