10-05-2020

DIGVIJAY SINGH - When the golf ball followed Commander Digvijay’s orders to a tee

Most players I spoke to for this series, had to think a bit before declaring their choice of career shot.

Not Digvijay Singh.

The moment I asked him about his unforgettable shot – one in which the ball followed his instruction like a soldier following a commander’s order – Digvijay had the answer… along with pictorial proof that it actually happened that way!

It was the final putt to win his maiden and only Asian Tour title – at the 2012 Panasonic Open India – and it could have also become the inspiration for the now-famous fake viral video of Tiger Woods’ winning putt from last year’s Presidents Cup singles match against Abraham Ancer.

In that viral video, Woods is shown to take off his cap and walk towards Ancer with the ball almost six-eight feet away from the cup. In reality, Woods had watched the putt at Royal Melbourne to within a foot before starting his walk.

On the other hand, Digvijay just knew that his putt was going to find the bottom of the cup when nearly four feet away. He had thrown his putter in the air and had moved to celebrate with his caddie, Dharmender, before the win was officially logged in the record books.

“It’s not because it was my first win on the Asian Tour or anything like that, but this really was an instance of things playing out exactly as you had imagined in your mind,” said Digvijay.

The lanky golfer was solid in the final round and reached the 72nd hole five-under par for the day, one ahead of compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar (who was playing in the final group behind Digvijay in the penultimate group) and Bangladesh’s Mohammed Siddikur Rehman, who had already finished and set the clubhouse marker at nine-under par.

At 10-under par, Digvijay definitely needed a par to stay ahead of the chasing pack, while a birdie would put the pressure on Bhullar, who would then need to make an eagle to force a play-off.

“I wanted to hit my third shot below the hole. I hit a great shot, but I guess because of the adrenaline pumping, it pitched above the hole and left me with a 12-13 feet downhill putt. There was about six-eight inches, right-to-left break. I had played very good golf the whole day and I really wanted to make that putt and finish with a birdie,” he added.

“The moment I made contact, I knew I had hit a very good putt. While the ball was still three-four feet short of the hole, I knew it was going in. As you can see in the pictures, I had already thrown my putter, picked up my hands in the air and had started walking towards my caddie. I clearly remember the ball falling in when I was high-fiving Dharmender.”

Bhullar could not reach the green in two and then two-putted for a par to finish tied second alongside Rahman on 9-under par, two behind Digvijay.

One final question had to be asked: Did Digvijay see the fake Woods video and what did he think of it?

“You know, I did. And I had a laugh. It brought back some lovely memories!”

By Joy Chakravarty (@TheJoyofGolf)