Singh hails benefits of the Zen effect

THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) - The power of Zen and the ability to stay cool under pressure have always been vital ingredients for Vijay Singh on the golf course.

Although best known for his workaholic approach, Singh believes his knowledge of Eastern philosophy played a significant role in his rise to the pinnacle of the game.

"Anything that you can do to help improve your golf mind is always important," the former world number one told Reuters at the Target World Challenge on Friday.

"I am a big believer of Eastern philosophy and of Zen stuff. I read a lot of other Zen stuff, especially martial arts.

"In Eastern philosophy, they teach you the body calmness much better than in the West. They believe in that and they've been doing it for thousands and thousands of years. That is where meditation came from.

"I was a student of that a little bit. I didn't meditate as much but I believe in everything that they do. I am more interested in the Zen stuff than anything else."

Singh, who ended Tiger Woods's five-year reign as world number one in September 2004, said it was important to know when to maintain mental tranquillity in a golf tournament.

"Sometimes when you get too calm and too comfortable, it doesn't go with the game of golf," said the 44-year-old, a Fijian of Indian descent whose name means 'victory' in Hindi.

"You need to have the happy medium and I'm still looking for that. I think everybody is."

ZEN THIRST

Singh, who fired a four-under-par 68 in Friday's second round to lie nine strokes behind the pace-setting Woods, said he developed his thirst for all things Zen simply by living in Asia.

"Just being there, talking to a lot of monks about the way they do stuff," the three-times major winner added.

"You can never get their feathers ruffled. They seem so calm all the time. It's a very calming effect to be around people like that."

Singh, who was born in Lautoka, Fiji, has plied his trade across the globe since turning professional in 1982.

He clinched his maiden professional title at the Malaysian PGA Championship in 1984 and has gone on to win in England, France, Germany, Italy, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Spain and the United States, among many other countries.

However, he started out as a lowly club professional in Borneo and lived in Malaysia for several years.

"I've been around Asian people for so many years," he said. "You tend to go with the flow, kind of thing. You tend to follow their roots.

"I was back in Thailand three or four weeks ago and it was very relaxing just seeing the style of living. I went to the monasteries as well and it's kind of like a de-tox in a very calm way."

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism known for its emphasis on practice and experiential wisdom, especially through meditation.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)