Jeev Milkha Singh has repeatedly spoken of his ambitions of playing in America regularly. Now, he is one small step closer. Jeev, who has had some impressive finishes on the USPGA Tour this season in the few starts that he has got as sponsor’s exemptions, has raked up enough dollars to get himself the Tour’s Special Temporary Membership (STM). It effectively means that he is now off the limit of seven sponsor’s exemptions.

Jeev has won a little over $640,000 till now, largely due to his fourth-place finish at the WGC-CA Championship in Doral in March. The membership is automatically available to non-US Tour competitors once they earn more than the 150th placed player on the money list the previous year. Last year, the 150th-placed player, former British Open champion Todd Hamilton, won $537,958.

What it means for the world No 33 is that he can continue playing on the Tour and make up the money figures for a card for next year, for which he will be eligible if he finishes better than or with the same amount as the PGA member who finishes 125th on the money list at the end of this season.

“I’m back playing in America in October, hopefully I’m able to get enough money by the end of the season,” Jeev, who is playing at the European Tour’s Omega Masters in Switzerland this week, told The Indian Express on Wednesday.

Returning after his rib injury that put a break in his European campaign in the summer and forced him to pull out of the British Open, Jeev followed up his not-so-impressive 67th place at the PGA Championship with a much stronger finish at the Wyndham Championship last week. The 17th place not only gave him a significant pay cheque, it also meant a show of intent, as well as form, to Greg Norman, who will name his two Presidents Cup wildcard picks on September 8.

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