Jeev Milkha Singh eyes major glory

Having battled with a lingering rib injury for the last two months, India's Jeev Milkha Singh has regained fitness and set his sights on the final major of the year and a possible Presidents Cup debut.

The Asian number one accepts he returned to the game too soon to compete in the US Open at Bethpage Black in June and now wants to make the most of the next two weeks.

"I tore my intercostal muscle and it's been really frustrating," Singh, 37, said after carding a one-over-par 71 in Friday's second round at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

"In the last eight weeks I have played just three times and that's been tough for me, especially when you're in a major championship.

"I didn't want to play the US Open because I wasn't fit but you feel you can't miss out because it's a major. But you do learn from your mistakes."

Singh, a three-times winner on the European Tour, missed the cut at the rain-lashed US Open after returning scores of 78 and 73.

Although he travelled to Turnberry in Scotland for last month's British Open, he pulled out after experiencing severe pain during the practice rounds.

"I've since taken three weeks off and my injury is much better," the Chandigarh professional said after covering his last nine holes at Firestone Country Club in two-under 33.

"It's feeling excellent right now and I'm really happy that in the first two days here I've gone after the drives and I feel no pain basically. It's a good sign."

Singh has long targeted a maiden victory on the PGA Tour and would dearly love to accomplish the feat in the season's last major, next week's PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

"It all depends on the mindset and how you deal with the pressure," he said. "Much of that comes down to the short game. Growing up I always dreamed of winning a major championship."

One of golf's globe-trotters who enjoys competing on all the leading tours around the world, Singh is also poised to become the first Indian to compete in the Presidents Cup.

The leading 10 players in the Internationals rankings after the PGA Championship automatically qualify for the October 8-11 team event at San Francisco's Harding Park Golf Course and Singh occupies the 10th spot.

"I would love it to get in," he said. "I love team events like that and the Presidents Cup is the only team event besides the Ryder Cup which is really big for us guys.

"I would love to be part of the team and contribute as an Indian and hopefully with that encourage other players coming out of India that if I can do it, a lot more can do it."

The Presidents Cup is a Ryder Cup-style competition which pits a 12-man US team against a line-up of International players from countries outside Europe.

Golfing great Greg Norman of Australia will captain the Internationals in October, another incentive for Singh to make the team.

"When I grew up, Greg was one of my mentors so being under him as a captain would be absolutely fantastic," he said.