Jeev Milkha

Singh

The penultimate qualifier into the major (via his win in Scotland on Sunday) split half of his fairways and greens, so his score makes sense, but it’s how he arrived at it that’s interesting. He sprinkled five birdies in between three bogeys and a double and played his final seven holes in 3-over. Afterwards, he said that he had planned on traveling to India before his backdoor victory at Castle Stuart, but was grateful (obviously) to crack the field at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

Francesco Molinari was attempting to go wire-to-wire at Castle Stuart Golf Links, but he closed with an even-par 72 to give Singh a chance. The eventual champ was in the 10th-to-last pairing today. After signing for a bogey-free, 5-under 67 to post 17-under 271, he later said that the repaired to the clubhouse to have tea and chocolate cake, only to witness the field regress. Despite an otherwise impressive week, Molinari need to convert an eight-footer for par on the 72nd hole to force sudden death. After the Italian’s long-range birdie never threatened to drop, Singh curled in a right-to-lefter for birdie from about 15 feet to secure his fourth European Tour victory. As the highest finisher inside the top five not already exempt into the British Open, Singh will make the trip to Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Remarkably, it will be just his second appearance in the major (MC, 2007). He’s also now exempt into next month’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

Singh tied for 23rd in last season’s edition, and looks to improve on that this week at Mission Hills’ Olazabal Course. He’s teed it up three times with the world’s elite this season, with a T67 at the WGC-Bridgestone his best showing. He has not cracked a top 20 since his win in Scotland the week preceding the British Open.

For a guy that was so intent on earning his PGA TOUR card, which he did in 2010, that he didn’t make one start this season is surprising. He entered with a Minor Medical Extension affording four events to earn $366,732 and an elevation in status, but never committed to a single tournament. Minor medicals do not carry over into the following year, so unless he gives Q School a try and graduates, we won’t see much of him if at all on the PGA TOUR in 2012.

The rookie was concerned about his left shoulder (tendonitis) during tee balls today, but his entire game was off. Back in action for the first time since the Transitions, Singh hit just five (of 14) fairways and seven GIR at TPC San Antonio today. Both of his birdies were on par 5s. Continue to steer clear until he’s regained health, form and confidence.

Ten years ago the genial Indian became a fixture on the European Tour, capturing four wins and reeling off seven seasons in which he featured highly in the rankings. But he’s hit a lull and has not bettered 133rd in the Race to Dubai in the last three years - and is not on course to improve that in 2016. He was T7 in the Thailand Classic in March, but it was his first top ten since the Dubai Desert Classic in 2013 and he arrives 0-for-3. Four previous U.S. Open starts have seen him play three weekends but never break the top 30 (or indeed 73 in any one round). His best result was T36 (at Oakmont) and he did take fewer putts than anyone in the field in 2006, but missed the cut on his most recent visit in 2009. If nothing else the vibes will be good. When his entry was confirmed a few days ago he tweeted: “Looking forward to battling the unrelenting Oakmont. I love the @usopengolf”

The 44-year-old Indian enjoyed seven straight years on the European Tour from 2006 and is a four-time winner, but recent times have been tough and he hasn’t finished better than 133rd on the Race to Dubai since 2012. This year he is 164th with just two top ten finishes, both in Thailand, and he hasn’t recorded a top 30 in Europe itself since the Lyoness Open in June 2015. This round may help change that. Starting on the back nine he ticked red at 11 and 15 before launching his second nine with three more ticks in four holes at 1, 3 and 4. He made bogey at No. 5 but made up for it with a final birdie at the 8th. When he signed his card as a late morning starter he was solo fifth and four behind the co-leaders.

That top five came back at The Belfry in 2008 after which the tournament fell of the European Tour schedule until it was resurrected this year. Singh has played in 24 events this season but only cashed in 10 and is down at 153rd on the Race To Dubai. The latest was a T33 in the Open de Italia although since then he’s missed the cut at the Porsche European Open in Germany and last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. The Indian has contested two previous British Masters on this week’s course, the Marquess, but crashed out at halfway in both 2001 and 2003.

The Indian is a four-time European Tour winner but, at 140th on the Race To Dubai, he needs a top three finish this week to keep his card. Singh had a mixed front nine with bogeys at 1 and 9 flanking birdies at 3, 4 and 6. But on the back nine he found a groove and circled birdies at 11, 13, 14 and 18 to pull within a shot of the lead held by Andrea Pavan and Lu Wei-chih. The 43-year-old has missed his last three cuts in this event but did finish third in 2006 and seventh in 2010. Today, he hit 10 (of 14) fairways and 15 greens in regulation.

In his second appearance on the Blue Mountain GC, Singh, 44, posted rounds of 73-68-69-67 for his first top 10 in his last 93 worldwide events. He played in the inaugural edition last year but missed the cut.