Jeev Milkha Singh is the highest ranked Indian golfer in the world and first broke into the top 100 in October 2006. He is also the first Indian golfer to become a member of the European Tour, since 1997, after he finished seventh at the European Tour qualifying school.

Jeev finished 2006 as the winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and became the first Indian to make the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings. In 2007, he became the first Indian golfer to participate in the Masters Tournament and also received India's fourth highest civil honor the Padma Shri.

Later, in August 2008, Jeev achieved the highest ranking for an Indian in any major event at the ‘2008 PGA Championship’ in Oakland Hills, where finishing at T9 made him arguably India's best golfer ever.

Over to Jeev, on how he has been coping with his back injury…

How are things with you, what plans for the future?

Right now I am looking forward to some good weeks as my game has turned around. I feel things are going to get better and a big win is around the corner - but I can only look at major championships in the next year.

My goal is to move back to the top 100 by December. I am in the 200s right now and hope to be back in the top 50 by July 2012 – I need at least need two or three wins for this or else it will be difficult. I also feel it is very important to look at world rankings - at the end of the day, the number of titles a player has, is what gives him a ‘high’.

I am at that stage of my life when I only want to play tournaments to win. Getting into the top 10 or top 5 are great confidence boosters, but the ultimate thing one works for, is a win.  As a matter of fact, when I move back to the top 50, I will only play the major tournaments. With my conditions and the confidence I have at this point, I should win.

How are you coping with the back injury?

My back is much better but it looks like it will take some time. Especially in cold weather, the muscles seem to get tight. Meanwhile, I do a lot of core workouts with my physiotherapist, who has flown down from Chandigarh;  he is a professional and has also worked with the Indian amateur team. I learnt some useful exercises from him that will make my back stronger, and I will work on those for 4 - 5 months before I see him again. Besides, I do a lot of Yoga with my trainer Shiv from Delhi every morning and evening, and that helps me a lot.

What really is your worry factor these days?

The fact that I can’t practice that much. Aside from the technical things, I just have to eventually increase my work load to get back.

Yes, I have made mistakes, but I have also learnt from those. As a sportsman, I was never taking injuries seriously. However, It is much better to come back late than unprepared. That’s the reason I’ve given it enough time and I have not increased my work load. It’s been six months since my injury and things are getting better - I just need to keep working on it and make myself stronger.

Are you worried that the titles are eluding you?

Yes, it is very frustrating -  tough to handle, but a part of life. Meanwhile, it is the best equalizer and makes me work harder. It’s bothering when injury sets me back but every sportsman has injuries. One makes the body work so hard and torturing it which is a part of this job - but every sportsman has to make the most out of it, move on and stay with it. The good news is I am still playing. At 40, I have another 10 years in me and a lot of chances to win tournaments.

And how is travelling on golf with your family?

Honestly, it’s fun and tough at the same time! The young one wakes up and moves in bed and kicks me around!  So the tough part is not getting enough sleep. But my family is going to stay back for a while in India and I will miss them a lot. My son is 18 months old and he’s started walking around -  it’s fantastic to hear him saying ‘mama’ and ‘papa’.  I don’t want to miss out on my son, growing. That’s what we do as human-beings; we get so involved in our professions, we forget small things which are actually the most important things in life.

Have you ever woken up, feeling it is not a ‘golf day’?

I have woken up with the feeling that I didn’t sleep enough, but not that I don’t want to play; however when am back from a break, I do. Like now, I don’t want to go for the Czech Open - the best thing is to take another week off and catch up with my son. But work is work - I’ve got a few years left in me and I feel I can do a lot more.

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This interview was compiled from a common press meet at the “Callaway Experience” event held at KGA , Bangalore, on Saturday, 6th August 2011