Tokyo: Jeev Milkha Singh capped a spectacular season when he won his fourth title of the year and second in as many weeks by clinching the season-ending Nippon Series JT Cup golf tournament on Sunday.
The win, which fetched Jeev a cheque of 30 million Yen, will also carry him into the top-50 of the world golf rankings and ensure a place in the prestigious Augusta Masters next April.
Jeev shot an even par 70 on the final day to finish with a score of 11-under 269, one shot clear of fast-approaching Nobuhiro Masuda.
The Indian needed to hole a tense 10-footer to ensure he avoided a play-off and won in regulation.
"I am happy the way I have managed to keep myself going in tense situations. I have followed my routine and done the right things and I have been patient," said Jeev, whose ranking should be somewhere in the 40s when it is announced on Monday.
Jeev also finished a career-best third on Japan Money List, which was topped by Shingo Katayama of Japan.
This year Jeev has been first in Asia, third in Japan and 16th in Europe. He has had four titles and a total of 18 top-10 finishes around the world. His climb in world rankings has been the most remarkable in the world, from 376th to inside the top-50.
"I cannot describe the feeling of elation that I am going through. It has been a dream season from the time I started way back in January. Four titles on three different tours, topping UBS Asian Tour Order of Merit and winning twice in Japan and the Volvo Masters of Europe, it is going to take some time to sink in," he said after the win.
Jeev will now be a starter at all Majors including Masters, where no Indian has teed up before and the British Open, where Jeev narrowly missed an entry last year.
Jeev, whose performance is the best by any golfer in a season barring Tiger Woods, was the first Indian to play and make the cut at the US Open in 2002 and he also played in 2006.
The Indian pro set the pace in the tournament in the second round itself. He shared the lead at halfway stage and then in the third round before breaking away from the crowd to open a four-shot lead that put him on top.
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