Singh has high hopes for India

Dubai:  Young sporting talent and great business minds are apparently behind the blossoming growth of golf in India, according to Jeev Milkha Singh, the first Indian to qualify to the European Tour.

Singh told Gulf News: "You can see the young players coming through like Gaganjeet Bhullar on the Asian Tour. Anirban Lahiri and Shiv Kapur are doing well then the youngsters like Himmat Rai, S.S.P. Chowrasia — the young generation is coming through now, they are in their twenties they are hungry they want to prove themselves and you'll see them come out on the main tours soon.

"Golf is the fastest growing sport in our country we have a big tournament next week which is worth 1.8 million euros, the domestic tour is fantastic and worth three million euros. We have a few Asian Tour events like the Hero Honda and the Sail Open, so it's on the rise and it's only going to keep going up we've seen this development shoot up in just five years."

Singh also lauded the investments made by top businessmen Gautam Thapur and Deven Munjal towards golf in India. "Gautam is the main man, he supported the Indian Tour and main European Tour, he owns Avantha and he's a billionaire also Mr Deven's he supported The Hero Honda. In all there are five or six billionaires fond of golf and want to see the game improve."

Speaking of the European Tour's strategic move into the country, which started with the Avantha Masters inclusion last year, Singh said, "I think it's perfect for them, India is a huge market and they've gone in at the right time."

Golf's inclusion to the 2016 Olympics would also further spark interest into the sport locally, said Singh. "It's very bright and getting bigger we have a fantastic domestic tour where the youngsters are practising and competing and parents are starting to see this and say if these kids are doing it why can't mine? The mindset is changing."

Singh concluded: "All we need now is some free driving ranges and some municipal courses to reach the common man."