Jeev Milkha Singh continues his return from the hand injury he sustained winning the Scottish Open in July at this week’s Barclays Singapore Open; and he has revealed an unusual ingredient that helped him to a play-off victory at Castle Stuart.
The 40 year old Indian had been dogged by injury problems when he injured his hand during the second round, and it had been four years since he last won a European Tour event.
But he carded a brilliant closing 67 before seeing off Italian Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari in a play-off - after a cup of tea and some chocolate cake had taken away the pain.
“I was in the middle of the fairway, hit the shot and it had no follow through so the club got stuck,” he said.
“I came in too steep, club got stuck, I had no follow through. Left hand came off but the right hand got the shock. It just swelled up and I could feel the pain right away, so I went into physio right after the round and they said just take painkillers.
“I took painkillers and went ahead to win the Scottish Open because the golfing Gods were kind to me.
“I had some chocolate cake at the player’s lounge and after that win, got into The Open Championship.
“It was very special. I was going through a tough patch with the injuries and everything. I was coming close but not getting it done and that week I played really well in the last round.
“As I mentioned, the golfing gods were on my side. When I was finished I thought I was one or two shots short of even going in for a play-off but the feeling came back to me and after a cup of tea and some chocolate cake I was ready to go for a play-off. I think everytime I have to go for a play-off, I will have that.
“Now things are much better. I feel the injury is about 60-70 per cent better but I still can’t hit the shots that I really want to. I like to hit these punt shots and I’m a fairway player but whenever I go deep down in the ground my finger really hurts.”
Singh is a former winner at Sentosa, and despite his injury problems is not ruling out more success - provided he remains patient.
“I am very happy that I’m back where I won on this course," he added.
“It’s a very challenging golf course and requires lot of patience and I think scoring is not going to be that low. I am really happy with the conditions of the golf course, I think its set-up in an amazing condition and I think it’s playing really well, the greens are good, fairways are excellent. No complaints.
“I love this golf course and obviously, I am feeling very positive coming into this week because it gives good memories having won here. I am looking forward to a good week but my injury obviously did set me back for a while. I bruised a bone in my finger but the way I take it is beware of an injured golfer. So I’m going to believe in that and go ahead this week.”
