2006 Volvo China flashback: Singh wins by one

The tenacious Indian, the son of an Olympic runner, was rated as Asia's rising star in the 1990s following four career victories but a string injuries and loss in confidence had halted his rapid ascent.

After seven years of toil and in the wilderness, Singh finally rose to the top once more with an emotional victory at the Volvo China Open, becoming only the second Indian after Arjun Atwal to win a co-sanctioned event with Europe.

“This is fantastic,” said Singh, who pocketed US$300,000. “When I was injured, I didn't know if I was going to come back in the sport. When I came back I wasn't thinking the same way.

"I was putting pressure on myself and I was getting down. And after that, you don't think right. I started working hard and the wrist became better and things started looking better for me. I've just won and it's one of the best feelings."

Singh carded rounds of 72, 69, 67 and 70 at the Beijing Honghua International Golf Club for a winning 10-under-par 278 total, one better than Spaniard Fernando Gonzalo-Castano. England’s David Lynn, the second and third round leader, was a further stroke adrift in third place.

With the help of his good friend and fellow professional Amritinder Singh, Singh remodelled his swing and said reading mind-improvement books put him back on the road to success.

Singh used reverse psychology to ensure a quick return to the winner's circle. "I've always tried hard to win and today, I just went in there with reverse psychology thinking that if it doesn't happen, never mind. And it worked out perfect for me."

At the halfway stage, the Indian was six shots off the pace but he benefited greatly during the third round, shooting a 67 before buffeting winds, which even knocked down a television tower, picked up in the afternoon and sent the leaders' scores soaring.

One shot adrift of playing partner Lynn going into the final day, Singh bogeyed the opening hole but he regrouped manfully and birdies at the third, fifth and seventh holes saw him reach the turn in 34 and one shot clear.

He stayed two ahead going into the 18th hole, the most difficult during the week, and he played it safe. "I was on the left side on the fairway in the rough and I decided that I wasn't going to be a hero and go for the flag and was going to play safe. If I made bogey, I'd still win the tournament," said Singh, who bogeyed his last hole.

Defending champion Paul Casey of England challenged briefly but bogeys at the 10th and 11th holes blew the air out of the Ryder Cup player’s tyres and he eventually had to settle for a share of fourth on 271 with Australians Peter Fowler and Jarrod Lyle and fellow Englishman Simon Wakefield.

Singh's victory provided the drive for his 2006 campaign as he went on to win the Volvo Masters in Spain, Europe's season-ending tournament, and back-to-back titles in Japan at the end of the year before being crowned the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit champion.

Leading final round scores:

278 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 72-69-67-70
279 - Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 67-74-68-70
280 - David Lynn (ENG) 68-67-72-73
281 - Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 68-71-72-70, Peter Fowler (AUS) 71-70-69-71, Simon Wakefield (ENG) 67-73-70-71, Paul Casey (ENG) 71-68-70-72
282 - Peter O'Malley (AUS) 72-72-70-68, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 69-72-71-70
283 - Paul Lawrie (SCO) 73-70-73-67, Simon Dyson (ENG) 67-72-73-71, Peter Hanson (SWE) 67-72-73-71, Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 69-67-72-75
284 - Brett Rumford (AUS) 69-75-71-69
285 - Richard Sterne (RSA) 72-72-70-71, Prom Meesawat (THA) 71-72-71-71, Jose Filipe Lima (POR) 67-69-77-72, Peter Lawrie (IRL) 71-70-72-72, Marcus Fraser (AUS) 70-71-69-75
286 - Christian Cevaer (FRA) 66-72-79-69, Amandeep Johl (IND) 75-70-72-69, Marc Cayeux (ZIM) 71-65-80-70, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 73-68-74-71, Damien Mcgrane (IRL) 72-70-73-71, Jean Van De Velde (FRA) 74-68-73-71, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 72-70-72-72, Hendrik Buhrmann (RSA) 72-68-71-75

April 8, 2007

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