My biggest win, says elated Jeev

Sotogrande, Spain, Oct 30 (UNI) First Indian to win a title on European soil, Jeev Milkha Singh described his outstanding triumph in the season-ending Volvo Masters as the biggest victory of his life.

The Asian Tour stalwart, who upstaged Europe's big guns like Ryder Cup stars Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald, fired a final round of one-over 72 for a four-day total of two-under 282 to join Chinese Taipei's Lu Liang-huan and Korea's Choi Kyung-ju who are the other two Asians to lift a title on European soil.

''It's my biggest victory of my career so far. I think this is going to stay with me for the rest of my life I think. It's a special one, and it means a lot to me,'' said a beaming Jeev.

''I think, also, I should play all of the Volvo tournaments because they are lucky for me. I always play well and win,'' said the Indian who had triumphed in the Volvo China Open in April to end a seven-year title drought.

Leading by one shot after the third round, Jeev, the leader of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, played superbly to shoot two birdies against three bogeys but the pivotal moment came at the trecherous par-five 17th hole which he birdied to open up a two-shot advantage.

After crunching his drive down the middle, the Indian nailed a six iron to 12 feet of the flag and two putted for birdie. With Garcia bogeying his final hole which gave Jeev a two-shot cushion, the Indian bogeyed for a one-shot triumph, winning 840,000 dollar -- by far his biggest cheque ever.

''I hit a good drive, must be one of my best drives of the week,'' said Jeev of his 17th hole birdie.

''I hit a six iron into 17. I had like 205 yards to the hole and I hit it to like 12 feet left of the hole. The whole day I didn't look at the leaderboard or scoreboard on any other hole except when I got on to the green on 18.

''I thought I needed that putt to win, you know, but when I saw the leaderboard, I had a two-shot cushion. I thought, just lag it up and if it goes in, well, good, that's fine, and that's what happened for me,'' he recalled.

Jeev ended the European season in 16th place on the Order of Merit, with winnings of 1.17 million euros.

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