Below: Jeev Milkha Singh with his coach, Amritinder Singh (left).
Sports
Golfer Jeev Milkha Singh Wins Scottish Open
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Inverness, Scotland
Sikh-Indian Jeev Milkha Singh beat Francesco Molinari in a playoff Sunday, July 15, 2012, to win the Scottish Open and secure a late berth in next week's Open Championship.
A final-round meltdown by local hope Marc Warren left Jeev Singh and Molinari tied at 17-under 271. The 40-year-old Sikh won by draining a 15-foot putt for birdie on No. 18.
Jeev Singh, the son of the legendary Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh, an Olympic 400-meter runner, shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to tie for the lowest round of the day. Warren and overnight leader Molinari (72) dropped shots down a tough closing stretch into the wind.
"I was just enjoying a nice cup of tea and some chocolate cake," Jeev said of his hour-long wait for the late starters to finish. "I said to myself that I'd see the finish and then leave for the airport. But as the chocolate cake went down, it got exciting out on the course."
After three opening rounds of very low scoring, Castle Stuart finally bared its teeth Sunday.
A fierce westerly wind and heavy rain at times proved too much for top-ranked Luke Donald (73) and Phil Mickelson (74), who both finished tied for 16th at 12 under.
Warren, playing in the second-to-last group and also seeking that one remaining berth in the Open Championship, led by three shots with six holes remaining. But he faltered under pressure and dropped four strokes in the final four holes. He finished tied for third with Alexander Noren of Sweden (70) at 16 under.
"It's going to be a long drive home tonight," said Warren, who was being cheered on by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. "I'm a little bit disappointed to be not only missing out on the Scottish Open but the Open as well."
Warren's collapse left Molinari in front as the Italian attempted a wire-to-wire victory after a dominant week in the Scottish Highlands.
He bogeyed No. 15, though, and needed a par-saving putt at the 18th to force the playoff. Molinari's approach from the middle of the fairway at the first extra hole landed at the back of the green, and his long putt came up well short, leaving Jeev Singh an opportunity he didn't waste.
By winning his first title in over four years, Jeev Singh not only will climb back into the top 100 but will play at the Open Championship -- staged at Royal Lytham & St. Annes starting Thursday -- for the only the second time in his 19-year professional career.
"I was going to go back and spend some time with the family," said Jeev Singh, who claimed his fourth European Tour victory. "I think God has been kind. I'm very fortunate."
[Edited for sikhchic.com]
July 16, 2012
Conversation about this article
1: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), July 16, 2012, 10:14 AM.
Caught him winning on UK television and his acceptance speach was full of excitement and humbling!