It’s been a while since I posted something in this space. Actually, I had no intention of making this blog look like a medical report, which has been the case with me as I struggled through my shoulder injury these last few months.

Finally, there is some good news. A couple in fact! Let me start with the medical update – after what seems like ages, I finally played a tournament without popping a single pain-killer during the four rounds. The shoulder held up for the entire week during the RBC Canadian Open, and I cannot put in words how much I enjoyed the feeling.

One person I have to credit for this transformation is Philippa Stewart. She has got magic in... MORE »

Having missed the cut at both Colonial and The Memorial, it is clear that I am struggling with my game. The long layoff because of the shoulder injury is still having its effect.

However, as we head to the St Jude Classic this week, I am just trying to stay positive and hoping to regain my form. Stay positive and stay healthy…that’s my current mantra.

The seven weeks off and the subsequent period of struggle has completely ruined my plans for the season. My ranking has dropped just below 100, so the first priority now would be to get it back into the top-50. Secondly, it has played havoc with my schedule.

For the second half of the season, unless I post some... MORE »

The bad news first – looks like I am out of action for at least three weeks. The shoulder injury I sustained before the Masters refuses to heal.

I have no idea when exactly I picked up the injury, but it has been bothering me for some time. Fortunately, the scans showed no tear, but that is also the frustrating part. I was told that a couple of weeks rest and physio would get me up and running once again, but that did not happen.

I withdrew from the PGA Tour’s Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town last week to give myself an extra seven days to recover. But the pain and the swelling returned when I started practicing again. In the end,... MORE »

My phone has been ringing incessantly ever since it became public knowledge that my father’s life story will be made into a Bollywood movie.

I have been asked this question more than a few times, and I have no hesitation in saying it again: I think my father is one of the greatest sportspersons in the history of Indian sports. As for comparisons with me, I think I will have to win a Major or two to even stand on the same platform as him. What he managed to achieve despite the challenges, and the recognition he gets from everyone – including today’s youngsters who were born 20 years after his major wins – is just amazing.

My father was one of... MORE »

I am playing the Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour this week, and would love to build up upon my good start in the match play last week.

The fans at TPC Scottsdale love their golf, and it is the best-attended golf tournament in the whole world. You just have to experience the party atmosphere around the amphitheatre-shaped par-3 16th to understand what I mean. It really is the ‘loudest hole in the world’. If you manage to hit a good shot here, the cheering that you get from the spectators is something that is going to remain with you for the rest of your life.

I did see and hear Tiger’s apology last Friday. I thought the guy meant it and... MORE »

This could just be the most life-changing week for me. On Friday morning, at 8.55am, Kudrat and I were blessed with a baby boy.

As we neared the all-important date, there were some very tense moments for the entire family. A few test results were not up to the doctor’s liking and Kudrat had to spend the past couple of weeks in hospital under observation. Having gone through the pain of losing our baby once, you can well imagine how even the slightest of negative news affected us. However, throughout this time, we had full faith in the Almighty and trust in the amazing doctors at the PGI Chandigarh.

In the end, everything went off well. Both mother and son are doing... MORE »

We are towards the end of the season and I am looking eagerly forward to the break. It has been a long year, which felt even longer because of the various injuries I had.

That’s how you feel when you are forced to sit back when you’d rather be out there playing. The days just seem to stretch. Injury is definitely the worst thing that can happen to an active sportsperson, but it is also something that you’ve got to expect. There is a very famous saying in India, which goes something like this: In a battlefield, only those guys fall who are riding on horses; not the ones who are crawling on their knees!

The reason I am talking injuries is... MORE »

I was really looking forward to playing the Frys.com Open, but unfortunately, I had to pull out of the tournament with an injured right ankle.

It is the same injury that bothered me last year around the PGA Championship. I thought I had gotten over it, but that’s apparently not the case.

Actually, I made the mistake of wearing the wrong shoes at Justin Timberlake’s PGA Tour event last week. I get special shoes from FootJoy, but the one I wore last week was not of the right specifications.

The ankle started feeling funny during Friday’s second round, and by the time I started warming up for Saturday’s third round, I had intense pain. I somehow finished the final two rounds there with... MORE »

The last few days have been remarkable for me. I guess the fact that I played so well at Turning Stone has everything to do with it.

The good news, even though it is not official at the moment and we will have to wait for the end of the season to get a confirmation, is that I have possibly secured my PGA Tour card for the 2010 season.

The final round of 8-under par 64 at the Turning Stone Resort Championship helped me finish tied seventh. That should help me earn enough money for the season to be inside the top-125 of the 2009 PGA Tour Money List. From what I have been told, the 125th player this season should earn... MORE »

The European Tour officially confirmed what was being discussed in the Tour and media for some time now – the prize funds for the Race to Dubai and the season-ending Dubai World Championship have been reduced by 25 per cent.

I guess because of my association with Jumeirah Golf Estates, I have been asked several times about my thoughts on the issue.

Let me put it this way, I am extremely happy, and feeling proud of Nakheel, the parent company of Jumeirah Golf Estates, for not only going ahead with this year’s tournament, but also stating their intention of honouring the commitment to the European Tour.

We are all fully aware of the economic situation across the world in the last 18 months... MORE »

Despite finishing tied 64th, I wasn’t too unhappy with my outing at last week’s World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational. However, it will be a completely different matter at the PGA Championship, the fourth and final Major of the season, which is being played at the Hazeltine National in Minnesota this week.

At Akron, where Tiger Woods won a superb battle with Padraig Harrington to win his second title in as many weeks, I was playing after a long break as I recuperated from the inter-costal muscle injury. I wasn’t expecting too much from my game. I knew the rust of not touching a club for almost two weeks was bound to show.

However, I thought I did pretty well,... MORE »

Even though I did not play any tournament last week, it still turned out to be a very exciting one. I added a first against my name – I walked the ramp.

I agreed to become the showstopper for one of India’s biggest designers, Rocky S, who brought the curtains down on the Bangalore Fashion Week. I thought it would be something different and great fun, but as the date started getting closer, I had trepidations about the whole thing.

In the end, I thought it went pretty well and I got several compliments from some of the established models about the confidence with which I... MORE »

Stewart Cink is one of the nicest guys you can come across, but I must admit I was rooting for Tom Watson when the two went out for a four-hole playoff to decide the new Open champion at Turnberry.

Even though my head said it should be Cink coming out tops after the four holes - especially after he teed off with a two-iron on the first playoff hole which showed he just wanted to be patient, be in the fairway and not give his rival any undue advantage - the heart kept hoping Watson would somehow conjure some more magic and collect his sixth Claret Jug.

Had Watson beaten Cink, it really would have been the most remarkable sporting achievement of... MORE »

The injury in my ribs is feeling much better after a week-long rest in my hometown of Chandigarh. However, I must admit that the pain has not gone completely.

While in Chandigarh, I just relaxed and had some physio work done. I did not hit a single ball and that seemed to have done a world of good. But as soon as I reached the range at Le Golf National, where we are playing the Open de France Alstom this week, and hit a few balls, the pain was back.

I played the pro-am with an anti-inflammatory patch on, and it wasn't too bad. There was a bit of discomfort, but it felt much better than during the US Open time. And the... MORE »

Not for a moment do I regret my decision to play the US Open. I may have missed the cut in what turned out to be an extremely difficult draw for those playing the morning groups in the opening round, but I have surely come out a much wiser man from the experience.

As I have written before, I played despite an injury to my intercostal muscles. The only reason I risked further injury was because it was a Major championship, and I did not want to let go the opportunity. I was playing well and thought that if I could play without trying and hoping for too much, I might be able to post a good result.

But once the rain... MORE »

First of all, the good news is that I am going to play the US Open. My chances of teeing up at Bethpage State Park's Black course looked bleak last week. I must have done some harm to my intercostal muscles during the final round of the European Open and played at the Celtic Manor with lots of help from the physios and pain-killers.

It was so bad last week that I wasn't even able to laugh. The whole rib-cage area was hurting and I thought I had either cracked a rib, or tore some muscle. However, a CT scan has ruled out both the injuries, so I think it must have been a sprained muscle. I am still hurting, but... MORE »

It was another top-10 finish for me at the Celtic Manor Wales Open, but I must reveal I almost pulled out of the tournament on the final day.

What happened was that I seem to have damaged my intercostal muscles during the final day of the European Open. Must have been some shot I hit from the rough. It started paining the day after the tournament, but visits to the wonderful physios on the European Tour and a couple of painkillers made it possible for me to play the first three days.

On the final day, however, the pain was unbearable. At the range, I was hitting my driver less than 200 yards, which was when I decided to cut short my... MORE »

I was extremely disappointed at the way I blew a great chance of adding a fourth European Tour title to my CV. The European Open was there for the taking. I went into the final day tied for the lead three strokes ahead of the rest of the field. But absolutely nothing happened for me on the final day.

It's easier to accept a loss when you play well, but someone else plays out of his socks and knocks you off. That's not to imply Christian Cevaer played badly - actually he did a fantastic job of tackling what was a tough course - but still...he shot a two-over and won, while I played four-over.

What was most disappointing on the final... MORE »

After a perfect start at last week's Players Championship, it was frustrating as I struggled over the next three days on a course I thought I'd do well on. The opening-round four-under 68 was satisfying, especially because it was my first competitive round on TPC Sawgrass, but nothing went according to the plan after that. I was hitting the ball well, but my short game was completely out of tune.

On the final day, I found just nine greens in regulation - missing most of them by just yards. But I failed to make any decent scramble. I would have expected to complete such a round in about 25 putts, but my chipping was so bad, I needed 31 putts.

The only... MORE »

Fantastic is the word that best describes what Gaganjeet Bhullar has done by winning the International Final Qualifying - Asia on Wednesday in Sentosa. It makes me proud to see such a talented youngster from India do so well.

Singapore and Sentosa must now rank as one of the favourite places for Indian golfer. For it was at Sentosa that I won the Singapore Open last November and now young Bhullar has achieved success at the same venue and made it to the British Open.

I have spoken to the young man and I look forward to welcoming him to the British Open. It is indeed a pleasure to see someone so young play so well.

I must admit that at his age,... MORE »

I had my best outing on American soil at the World Golf Championship's CA Championship last week in Doral. In a tournament played on one of the most demanding golf courses in the world - famously known as the 'Blue Monster' because of how tough it is - and competing against one of the finest fields ever assembled, I finished fourth.

And while I think I could have done much better than the 14-under I eventually shot, it would have been difficult to catch up with Phil Mickelson, who won the tournament, and Nick Watney, who put up a great show before finishing runner-up.

I started the final day four... MORE »

The WGC World Match-play Championships was something I had been looking forward to for sometime. And unfortunately I did not go further than the first round, losing to Ian Poulter.

But the tournament became the hot topic the world over, as Tiger Woods made his return to the golf arena after taking a break since last year's US Open in June 2008.

His return was surely the biggest golfing news. And coming as it did at a time, when there is talk about the global slowdown hitting the golf industry, too, Tiger's return is a big booster for the game.

As golfers agreed at the WGC, his return is just what the sport needed to re-kindle the interest in these times. Suddenly, there... MORE »

I am in Los Angeles this week for the Northern Trust Open at the stunning Riviera Country Club, and apart from the bucketful of rains, the other thing in abundance seems to be speculation about Tiger Woods' imminent comeback to professional golf after a nine-month layoff because of a knee surgery.

Everyone wants to know which will be that blessed tournament, the television ratings of which are sure to crash through the roof?

For long, it was being thought that Tiger will possibly be back with the Dubai Desert Classic. After all, he was not just the defending champion, but a trip to the Middle East makes sense given his business commitments in the region. But Tiger skipped it.

I don't think he... MORE »

We could have been playing the Indian Masters this week, but the tournament, like many others in these difficult times, became a victim of the global financial meltdown.

I was really looking forward to the tournament, which put India firmly on the golfing map when it was held for the first time last year. That was the first European Tour event in my country, and with the Johnnie Walker Classic two weeks later, it was a golfing fiesta for the fans.

I can understand the decision taken by 'Golf in Dubai', the promoters of the tournament, who also happen to be my personal sponsors. All I can say is that they have promised an even bigger, even better event next year. Hopefully... MORE »

The feelings are mixed with another top-20 finish despite a 10-under total for four days. Four straight under-par rounds at Dubai Desert Classic landed me in tied 16th for the second successive week.

Overall the Desert Swing was a good one in terms of my play - I was 30-under for three weeks - but the results were somewhat in tune with the play. Still, as I said last week I am not unhappy for this is only the start of the season. Also the fact that I have been over-par only once - in the first round of Abu Dhabi - and have twice been on par and the rest nine rounds have been under par is very satisfying.

The Dubai... MORE »

Seven straight rounds at par or under is not too bad for the start of the season. After the 74 in the first round at Abu Dhabi, I have been par or under for the next seven rounds, with the final round at Commercialbank Qatar Masters being a five-under 67.

I had two rounds in the 60s at Abu Dhabi and one more in Doha. So, I am feeling quite good about my game, particularly off the tee and with the irons. In Abu Dhabi I found 14 or more greens on three days and 12 on another. In Doha I hit between 13 and 15 greens on each of the four days and despite the weather I also found a... MORE »

First and foremost, a very Happy New Year to all my friends and well-wishers.

After a long, long season, travelling from one country to another, from one continent to another, a couple of weeks at home is indeed heaven. In fact, even as I talk about this break, half of that is over! But I must confess, being at home, with my wife, Kudrat, the rest of the family and friends has been such a great feeling.

It has been a season of great highs, which late in the year was also hit by a personal tragedy of losing our first child. But that was the 'Will of the God', who has been very generous to us in every which way. As... MORE »

I'd just like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2009 and thank you all for the support that you've given me over the season and specially over the last month.

I've enjoyed my best season ever and am extremely pleased that I've managed to win four times and the icing on the cake was to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit once again and I'm extremely proud of that achievement. It was also a great honour to win the Asian Tour Players' Player of the Year Award

I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with my family and my aim right now is to lose a few pounds in weight and get a bit fitter... MORE »

Hi there everyone and welcome to my first ever blog on my first ever website! I'll try and keep this up to date as possible and tell you my thoughts on my golf and give you an insight into my life on tour.

I must first of all mention my win in the Barclays Singapore Open - I think it's one of the best wins of my career to date and would probably come second best to my Volvo Masters win in 2006. The Golfing Gods were certainly looking after me at Sentosa last week and to come out on top in front of Ernie and Padraig was just amazing. This win has given me a lot of confidence and has... MORE »