The European Tour’s arrival in India for this week’s EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters will have an emotive effect on Jeev Milkha Singh, whose contribution to golf in India was recognised when he was awarded the Padma Shri.
The Padma Shri is an award given by the Government of India to Indian citizens in recognition of their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Social Service and public life.
Singh was bestowed the Padma Shri last year after his outstanding 2006 season, when the 36 year old won the Volvo China Open and the season ending Volvo Masters on The European Tour, as well as the final two events of the 2006 Japan Golf Tour season, which in turn led to him becoming the first Indian golfer to play at the Masters Tournament in 2007, having qualified through the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Playing at Augusta National is not the only ‘first’ that Singh has achieved as an Indian player. He is widely recognised as a pioneer for the game in his home country, the first Indian to truly play on the international stage.
It was for those achievements that Singh was able to follow in his father’s footsteps in being awarded the Padma Shri. His father, Milkha Singh, was honoured in 1958 for his exploits in athletics, and is still regarded as one of India’s greatest sportsmen.
“The Padma Shri is one of the highest honours a civilian can get, so it was a huge honour for me,” said Singh. “It’s like when you get knighted in the U.K. My father got it 40 years ago, too, so we're a very fortunate family.”
As the only golfer to be awarded the Padma Shri, Singh holds a special place in the affections of every Indian player, be they professionals or amateur.
One man who feels indebted to Singh is now one of his European Tour colleagues, and one of India’s brightest prospects, Shiv Kapur, who will also feel an overwhelming sense of pride this week as The European Tour stages its first event in India over his home course, the Delhi Golf Club.
When asked about Singh’s importance to the game in his home country, Kapur said: “Jeev has been a great mentor for me. Whenever I have been down he is always the kind of guy to bring you back, to help you but also get you to buck up your ideas.
“I remember at Wentworth, I was second or third after two rounds but then just played horribly on the weekend and I just wanted to go home and he stopped me. He told me that when you are playing badly you have to fight through it you have to be brave and go out there and fight.
“He’s also the guy who has been the figurehead for Indian golf. He was the first to play on The European Tour; the first guy to play in Japan; the first to play US PGA Tour Qualifying; the first to play at the Masters.
“That was at a time when everyone else was afraid because they didn’t know what was out there. When everyone else was standing around think about what-ifs, he was the one who had the guts to go out there and do it, and that is something you have got to look up to.
“He was the first one that came out of India into the big bad world so to speak , and now it’s easy for us guys to go out there. I have seen young guys saying: ‘If he can win the Volvo Masters and play in the Masters then why can’t I?’
“I’ll never forget seeing the Official Masters film from 2007. I was on a plane watching it and the opening shot was of Jeev. They were talking about how Singh was leading after the first nine holes, but it wasn’t the Singh we all expected. That just makes you really proud to be an Indian and I think he has been a great ambassador for the country.
“He was awarded the Padma Shri, which is a pretty big thing, basically like being knighted in India. It’s not just a sports award, it covers all walks of life and for a golfer to win it is a great achievement, and one that Jeev deserved for what he has done for Indian golf.”
