'Million Dollar Man' Jeev an inspiration

Jeev Milkha Singh's newly acquired 'Million Dollar Man' status will inspire a raft of young golfers throughout Asia, the sport's regional tour chief said yesterday.

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Jeev as our first million-dollar man in a single season on the Asian Tour," the tour's executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said.

"Part of our mission is to create greater playing opportunities for our members and through this historic landmark, it reinforces the strength of the game in Asia.

"I am convinced that Jeev's success will inspire other young players to emulate his success."

Singh won a nail-biting Singapore Open title on Sunday after Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els had come agonisingly close to taking the $5 million Asian Tour event to a play-off.

The Indian virtually sealed the Asian order of merit title with the win. He took home a winner's cheque for $792,500 and becomes the first player on the Asian Tour to win more than $1 million in a single season.

Singh's earnings soared to more than $1.4 million with the Singapore victory.