In a victory steeped in personal history and emotion, Indian golfing icon Jeev Milkha Singh triumphed at the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Invitational in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The 54-year-old champion secured the title on Thursday at the historic Royal Colombo Golf Course, marking his first major international professional win since 2012.
A Poignant Triumph in a City of Love
For Jeev, this win carried a profound emotional weight that transcended the sport. Colombo is the city where his legendary parents—the late athletics icon Milkha Singh and former Indian volleyball captain Nirmal Milkha Singh—first met and fell in love in the late 1950s. His father was in the country for an athletic competition, while his mother was captaining the Indian volleyball team. Their chance meeting at a local market blossomed into a lifelong romance.
"It feels special to win in Colombo, the city where my parents met and fell in love," an emotional Jeev shared after his win. "So this win is special." The victory served as a powerful tribute to his parents, who both tragically succumbed to Covid-19 in 2021. Jeev admitted that their loss led him to a tumultuous period where he lost the motivation to play golf. "I had literally decided to give up the sport before I decided to play again for them," he revealed, crediting their enduring love for the game as his inspiration to return.
Mastering the Challenge at Royal Colombo
On the course, the Padma Shri awardee and 20-time international winner showcased his enduring class. Jeev carded a superb third-round score of six-under-65 to finish with an overall tally of 15-under, edging out competitor Aryan Roopa Anand by a single shot. The win came at the Royal Colombo Golf Course (RCGC), one of Asia's oldest courses established in 1869.
Jeev spoke about the unique challenges of the Colombo course, highlighting windy conditions and fast greens with a stimpmeter reading of 9.7 to 9.8. "The key here is managing the distance as well as the course," he explained. At 54, he acknowledged he cannot match the driving distance of younger players, but emphasized that accuracy and consistent course management were his winning formula. "Playing among youngsters in this format also pushed me to do well," he added.
Looking Ahead: A Balanced Schedule and a Boost for Golf
This victory adds momentum to Jeev's recent form on the senior circuit. Having joined the Legends Tour (Senior European Tour) in 2022, he recently finished second at the MCD Mauritius Legends earlier in December. He now aims to balance his commitments between the Legends Tour and the IGPL, including next year's IGPL League.
Following his parents' passing, Jeev focused intensely on his fitness and mental well-being, incorporating regular yoga, gym sessions, and training at the Chandigarh Golf Club. "I came close to winning the title at Mauritius and it means that I am in fine form," he stated.
Commenting on the emergence of new tours like the IGPL alongside the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), Jeev struck a positive note. "Competition is good for players," he said. He highlighted the benefit for junior and amateur players who get to compete alongside professionals in the IGPL format. "Every tour is built on the players and if the players can win and earn prize money, it’s good for the overall development of golf," Singh concluded, dedicating his poignant Colombo title to the memory of his parents who first introduced him and his son, Harjai, to the sport.
