Captain Singh

Team Asia captain Jeev Milkha Singh, a two-time Asian Tour number one and multiple winner in Japan and Europe, talks about the honour of leading the continent into battle against Europe at the second edition of the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM in this in-depth interview. The Ryder Cup-style event takes place at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club from January 15-17.

Milkha Singh has struggled with his own game over the past two years but says he's back on track

What sort of a captain will you be?

I will be a captain who would like to be positive around the players, give them guidance and give them all the respect that they deserve and to make sure they are comfortable and happy with what I’m doing. I want to make sure they give their best and win the EurAsia Cup for Asia.       

What are the things that you will do to get the best out of your players?

I want the players to do their own thing. Golf is such an individual sport and every player has his own routine and the way they prepare for a tournament each week. I want them to be in that mode as that’s when they play their best golf. I would like that for them and if they can do that, I don’t want to interfere too much. I want to give them positive vibes and guidance to be out there and just to go out there to go from the first hole and see what comes our way.

How do you see Team Asia shaping up?

I think we’ll have a very close match and it’ll be very good. I’m sure Europe will be very well prepared. I’ll hopefully have the best team possible and I will have the belief in my players that they will going to do an excellent job, every one of them. By January 17 evening, we’ll know who will take the EurAsia Cup.

What role do you see the likes of Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Anirban Lahiri and Thongchai Jaidee playing for team Asia as they’ve been on form this year?

For sure they will be very important but every player will be equally as important. Every player in the team will have deserved their position and they would have proven themselves to be on the team. I’m sure everyone will give their best in the EurAsia Cup.

One of your early career wins was the Asian Match Play. What is it about match play that excites you?

Match play is calculated and aggressive golf. Sometimes you pull it off, sometimes you don’t. Calculated aggressive golf is the right way to play match play, not like how you would play stroke play. I will tell the players that. It’s helped me in match play. Once you’re up at the start of a match, it’ll help in building momentum for your match and the team.

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Written by The Editors

Photography by AFP

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