Jeev Milkha Singh accepts Asian

Tour honorary membership

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh has been afforded an honorary membership of the Asian Tour for his outstanding achievements and contribution to the game of golf in Asia and across the globe.
Singh joins the exclusive club of Asian Tour honorary members which include Vijay Singh of Fiji and Korea’s K J Choi.
“I think it’s a great honour for what I’ve done for golf in Asia. I’m pretty excited that I’ve been recognised for my achievements and I want to thank the Asian Tour and all the members for considering me for this recognition,” said Singh.
The 37-year-old Indian has become one of the world’s leading players in recent years where he has won eight tournaments in Asia, Europe and Japan over the past three seasons.
He has also broken into the world’s top-30 and has enjoyed the honour of winning two Asian Tour Order of Merits in 2006 and 2008. Singh also wrote a slice of history by becoming the first man to surpass US$ 1 million in earnings on the Asian Tour in a single season last year.
“This is where I started from and I will never forget that,” said Singh. “I will always go back and support the Asian Tour. The way the Asian Tour has grown is fantastic to see. I feel and strongly believe that the Asian Tour will continue to grow and produce top-class players.”
Singh (as a boy played in the Doug Sanders world junior championship at Aberdeen in the late 1980s-early 1990s) cut his professional teeth in Asia in 1995 and immediately showed his potential by finishing third on the Order of Merit. Between five seasons, he won four titles before enduring a dip in form due to injuries and loss in confidence.
The Indian endured several lean seasons before coming back with a vengeance in 2006 with a long-awaited victory in the Volvo China Open. It sparked a superb revival in his game as he went on to win three times around the world and lift his maiden Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown.
Last season was a near replica of his 2006 success as he won four times internationally, including the Barclays Singapore Open which saw him take his season’s earnings to US$1.45 million and rewarded him with a second Order of Merit crown.
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han was delighted that Singh accepted the honorary membership.
“As one of the pioneers of the Asian Tour, Jeev’s success story serves as a wonderful inspiration to many young players in Asia. He learned to compete and win on the Asian Tour and is now regarded as one of the world’s best players.
“Jeev is well known for his tremendous work ethics, discipline and determination which are vital ingredients to succeed in the game of golf. He is looked up by many golfers in Asia and we are extremely proud and honoured that he is fully supportive of the Asian Tour and for what we stand for the game of golf in the region,” said Han.