It has been a mixed season for Jeev Milkha Singh, who Thursday will tee off at the inaugural Dubai World Championships, which signals the end of the European Tour season.
It has been a season, during which Jeev despite a fall in his World Golf Rankings ensured a ticket to the US PGA Tour for 2010. The full playing rights were confirmed at the end of the final US Tour event last week at the end of the WGC-HSBC Champions and last of the Fall series events, the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Florida.
"It is indeed a irony that in a year I did not win and saw my rankings drop, I made it to the PGA Tour," said Jeev. "It was fairly certain that I would make the PGA Tour card after the top-10 at Turning Stone, but I still needed to wait till the end of the season to get a confirmation of my prize money. The ticket to PGA Tour was the best thing this year."
As a non-exempt member, Jeev tallied way more than the 125th finisher on the PGA Tour and it gave him rights to play on PGA Tour next year. That will make Jeev only the second Indian - after Arjun Atwal - to be exempt for PGA Tour.
In 2009, Jeev, who played almost fully on US and European Tours, made just $1.27 million globally. Of that $815,000 came in events, including Majors and World Golf Championships (WGC), counting towards the US Tour Money list.
Looking back all that, a relaxed and very fit-looking Jeev was all smiles as he teed off at the Pro-Am, in the company of his brother-in-law, Manish Sanwalka and two others, at the first-ever Dubai World Championships, which signals the Grand Finale for the top-60 of the European Tour.
"I am feeling absolutely fit, no niggles, no aches or pains and the season is almost over," said Jeev about his current state. "Through the second half of the year I played with some problem or the other. Rib, Wrist, ankle