Sports

Master Of The Greens

Sheer drive qualifies Vijay Singh as the hardest worker in golf. He has won a major; is aiming for the Master's crown

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Master Of The Greens
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Born in Lautoka, Fiji, where his father Mohan Singh was an aircraft refueller and a first generation immigrant from India, Singh played his first round of golf at the early age of eight. "But," says he, "I had been caddying for my dad since I was six and used to swing the golf club on occasion." His father was captain of the Nadi Airport Golf Club and obsessed with the game. "He was really, really keen. Everyday was golf. He would come back from work and head for the course." Adds Bhoo Prasad Gautam, of the Fijian PGA, who played with Singh in the early '80s: "Vijay used to play with his father every afternoon. That is how he became so keen. He would play golf rather than go to school."

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In fact, he left school at the early age of 16. Says he: "Dad wasn't happy, mum wasn't happy. But I was." One of six children, two of Vijay's brothers shared his passion for the game. "But," says Krishna, "only he had the drive. His drive as a kid was something you seldom see in people."

That same drive took him to Australia around the same time. By then he had won nearly every amateur golf tournament in Fiji and encashed the prizes to be able to finance his game at a higher level. Modelling his game around Tom Weiskopf, the 1973 British Open champion, Singh found Australia a tough nut to crack. Says he: "Although I was a scratch player the standard there was so much higher." Unable to match it with the big guns, he made a living playing ProAms in the outbacks and won just enough to "survive" and travel to Asia where in 1984 he won the Malaysian PGA championship. Barely 21, Singh's game soon deteriorated after that and for two years he accepted a club job at Borneo with the intention of improving his game.

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In the rain forest he pounded ball after ball till he noticed a tangible improvement in his game. During this time, he also made a lot of money. Says he: "I used to play with tycoons who loved betting. I used to give them a good handicap. I would lose some but most of the time I would win. I made a lot of really good money that way. I was really tuned. I could get up-and-down from a cage."

His next big break came when he won the Nigerian open in 1988 where he headed the Safari tour money list. In fact, the two victories he holds closest to his heart are the wins at the Malaysian and Nigerian opens. But, his first real break he considers his victory at the 1993 Buick classic where he won a play-off with Mark Weibe. It was a win that got him the Rookie-of-the-year honours and a total prize money of $650,000 on the US PGA tour.

OF course, he married early. In 1985. He first met Ardena Seth on a golf course in Fiji while she was working for the Malaysian embassy. Says Vijay: "She doesn't play often but she sometimes joins me and our son Qass at the Ponte Vedra golf course in Florida. " But she understands the game enough to give him tips. Actually, it might have been some advice from her that allowed him to putt his way to the PGA title, three-putting only once in 72 holes. "She said—'Why don't you try putting cross-handed?' I did it at the Western Open in June and it has been working ever since," he says.

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In fact, if there's a weakness in his game it's his putting. Though he does enjoy a reputation on the PGA tour as a 'hard worker' (Time magazine called him the 'hardest working man in golf'). During practice and at nights at home he swings a specially made club which is 10 times heavier than his own clubs. It helps him build his strength and hone his swing finish. At Ponte Vedra, where he stays, he begins with a normal routine—pitching wedge, 9.8.7.6 etc—and finishes with his driver. Says he: "I probably hit 200-300 more golf balls than your average professional." He also spends a lot of time visualising certain shots on specific golf courses and getting creative with all kind of chip shots.

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"There are many ways to achieve the same results on the golf courses," he says. "Much depends on the conditions of play and the lie of the ball. If you haven't prepared for a variety of shots in practice, then you won't have the confidence in tournament play. I like to create many different situations when I practice." Adds Gautam: "Many years back when he was in Fiji, and the Melbourne Cup was coming on television, all of us golf aficionados were glued to our sets. But not Vijay. He was practising chips in the backyard. He was not the least bothered about what was happening."

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One of the reasons, if not the only one, why Singh hasn't yet made it to India is the lack of the right opportunity. A few years ago IMG tried to arrange a tournament appearance for him but the deal fell through because the sponsor went through a bad business spell. But Singh hasn't given up. "I am hopeful of playing in India in the next two years. I am very curious to see how Indian golf has progressed. I saw the performance of the Indian team in the Alfred Dunhill Cup and was quite impressed with their performance. I have also played against Jeev Singh in 1995. But the event to which I come has to fit in with my PGA schedule."

Last year, however, Singh primarily played his golf on the US PGA tour because of sponsor commitments and his dedication to winning a major. This, in spite of both him and Ardena enjoying travelling to Europe and South Africa to play for professional golf tournaments. He calls it 'one of the perks of his job'. But, now after winning his first major, he feels that his travel outside the US might be even more constricted except for the British Open and the World Matchplay which will be at the top of his list. Says Singh: "Now that I have won a major I would like to go after the Masters crown." He's still in love with Fiji even though he's an infrequent visitor. Says he: "That's my home and it's always going to be my home."

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The colour of his skin rather than his nationality probably make him a crowd favourite with black spectators around the world. In December 1995, while playing at the Johnnie Walker World Championships in Jamaica, he was an overwhelming favourite of the local galleries. Says Vijay, beaten then by Fred Couples in a play-off: "I was a little sad for them that I didn't pull through."

With the other icon for black spectators, Tiger Woods, Singh shares a good relationship. Says he: "We acknowledge each other at tournaments but because of our hectic schedules it has been tough for the two of us to get to know each other. But Tiger has had a tremendous influence on the game. "

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If Singh's colour of skin marks him out on the course so does his quirky streaks sometimes. At the 1995 Phoenix Open, for instance, Singh, trying to break out of a putting slump, started putting with his eyes closed. Says PGA player Jesper Parnevik: "He did that for 71 holes and was tied for the lead. He had about a 15-footer on the last to win. Any normal player would say 'That's enough, keep your eyes open'. But he didn't. He kept his eyes closed, knocked it five feet by and then just walked up to it, eyes shut, boom, in the hole. He did the same thing in the play-off where he defeated Billy Mayfair."

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Reminded of the story, Singh nonchalantly commented in On Tour: "I had putted that way for 72 holes, every single hole, so why not another one? It's a very good way of doing it." A tip perhaps budding golfers could follow if they are courageous enough to do it.

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