Twenty-five years after turning pro, Jeev Milkha Singh is transitioning to the international senior tours. He holds the distinction of being the first Indian to reach the top 10 in the 2008 PGA Championship, and he now hopes his success will pave the way for other Indian athletes in the senior ranks.
Jeev plans to extend his playing days by another seven or eight years. Since he turns 50 this coming December, he'll be eligible for senior competition, and his first goal is to secure membership in the Japan PGA to compete on their senior tour.
The veteran golfer mentioned that his four previous professional wins in Japan allow him to skip the qualifying tournament for the senior tour. After two decades as a pro, his current mission is to lock in his eligibility for all the premier senior tours globally.
Due to his past ranking in the global top 50, Jeev is eligible for the three Major championships for the first two years after turning 50. However, he still needs to earn a spot on the Champions Tour and expects to travel to the US in October of next year for the qualifiers. He views the 50-plus tour as a sort of 'retirement fund' and would consider himself lucky to compete at that level for eight years.
Regarding his physical condition, Jeev emphasized that peak fitness is non-negotiable for survival on the senior tour. While he acknowledges that experience is a great asset for climbing the ranks, he believes it's useless without the physical stamina to perform. Consequently, he is making fitness his primary focus to ensure he can play effectively for years to come.
When discussing the possibility of senior tours coming to India, Jeev expressed optimism that as more Indian professionals enter the international senior scene, it will eventually lead to hosting senior pro events on home soil.
Asked if he is retiring from the regular tour, Jeev pointed out that many golfers worldwide balance both circuits, though his main priority is now the senior tour. He is scheduled to appear at the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational 2020 in Chandigarh next month.