Golf: Jeev Milkha Singh ranked 36th

Jeev Milkha Singh continues to touch dizzy heights and the on-song Indian leapfrogged to a career best 36th in the latest Official World Golf Rankings following his emotional triumph in the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup.

The Golf Nippon Series JT Cup was clearly the most memorable victory for the Indian who was hardly in the right frame of mind with his wife recuperating in a Tokyo hospital after delivering a stillborn baby.

Urged by her to play on, Jeev went on to win his second Japan Tour title of the year — overall fourth this season — and the 24 rank points he earned in the process helped him break into the top 40, a height no Indian could reach before.

Besides the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, Jeev’s other triumphs this season include Singapore Open, Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup and Bank of Austria Open.

Jeev is also assured of this year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit title.

Among his compatriots, Jyoti Randhawa is ranked 147th, while the US-based Arjun Atwal (200th) is the only other Indian in the top 200.

Indian Masters winner SSP Chowrasia is way behind at 323rd.

Golf: Jeev turns tragedy into Triumph

Jeev showed his fighting spirts when he turned tragedy into triumph. He won the Nippon Series JT Cup, despite the fact that he had lost his Child(a still born child) even as he played the tournament.

Displaying an amazingly strong mind, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh overcame a personal tragedy to win his fourth title of the season, the Golf

Nippon Series JT Cup, here on Sunday.

Faced with the tragedy of losing his first child, who was delivered still-born in a Tokyo hospital earlier in the week, Jeev had not hit not a single ball before he teed up for the tournament on Thursday.

He started with a 64 in the first round and then went on to win the title with a total of 12-under 268 with rounds of 64-70-68-66, in only his fourth start in Japan this season. That gave him a two-shot win over defending champion Brendan Jones (64), who tied for second with David Smail (66) and Taichi Teshima (68) at 10-under 270.

Jeev, who missed the Wednesday Pro-Am, was urged to play by his wife, who felt he needed to take his mind off the tragedy. He was given special permission to play in the main tournament, as players missing the Pro-Am are not allowed to tee off in the main tournament. But the organising committee keeping in view the exceptional circumstances allowed him to play.

“Maybe I’m playing well because I’m just going out there to play. When there is no focus, you just go out and hit the ball,” said Jeev, who this season has already won the Bank Austria Open on the European Tour, the Singapore Open in Sentosa on the Asian Tour and the Sega Sammy Invitational in Japan.

After the first round, Jeev had said he was not in the mindset to play but was convinced by his wife, Kudrat, to go to the course straight from the hospital but only after the arrival of his sister and some other family members to look after her in the hospital, where she has spent the entire week.

This was Jeev’s second win in the tournament, having claimed it the first time in 2006 and last year after leading till the penultimate hole, he double bogeyed the final hole to drop to third.

“I love Japan and this surely has to be my favourite tournament, having won twice and coming close one other time,” said Jeev, who admitted his focus on golf was just not there this week.

“It is very difficult to focus on the game, when my mind is on something else,” said Jeev. “My mind is on so many other things that are more important to me than even golf.”

Jeev, who started the final day in tied third place, opened with a birdie on the second to catch up with overnight co-leader Toshinori Muto (71), even as the other third round co-leader Thai Prayad Marksaeng (74) fell behind with bogeys on first and third.

Once in the lead Jeev played steadily with birdies on sixth and seventh holes to turn in three-under and firmly in lead three shots clear of his nearest rival.

Defending champion Jones had three birdies on front nine, as he jumped from overnight four-under to seven-under but Jeev was still way ahead.

On the back nine, Jeev stayed consistent and wavered only once with a bogey on 14th, which came after a birdie on 13th. He quickly made up for that bogey with a birdie on 15th and then closed with five straight pars for a 66 and a winning 12-under 268.

Jones, Smail and Teshima all came to the 18th at 10-under, needing a birdie to go sole second, but all managed only a par on the tough closing hole, which had cost Jeev the title last year. The par-three final hole yielded no birdies through the day.

Jeev will next play in the Volvo Masters of Asia, the closing tournament on Asian Tour, where he has already wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit with record earnings of over $1.4 million.

Golf: India disappoint at World Cup of Golf

Jeev Milkha Singh could not really set alight the turf, while Jyoti Randhawa too was not in his element and the Indian pair brought home a final round card of one-under 71 to finish tied 17th in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup of Golf in Dongguan, China on Sunday.

The duo needed something special in the foursome format to haul them up among the top 10 but all they could manage was a 71 and the aggregate of eight-under 280 was good enough only for a share of the 17th place.

They thus fell short of India’s best show in the tournament so far which came in 2005 when Randhawa had teamed up with Arjun Atwal for a ninth place finish.

The Indian duo’s discomfiture in this format was all too evident as they dropped bogeys on the fourth and 14th holes. Birdies on the second, 10th and 11th holes did put them under-par but that was just not enough for a strong finish.

At the top, Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson produced a magnificent three-stroke victory for Sweden after shooting a nine-under 63 in the final round.

Final scores:

261: Sweden; 264: Spain; 270: Japan , Australia ; 272: Germany ; 273: England ; 274: South Africa , Thailand; 275: USA; 276: Chile, France , Philippines; 277: Portugal, Canada , Denmark; 278: Ireland; 280: India, China; 281: Scotland, Italy ; 282: Finland; 283: Guatemala, New Zealand ; 284: Chinese Taipei; 285: Wales; 287: Korea; 288: Mexico; 294: Venezuela.

Golf:Jeev, Jyoti spearhead Asian Challenge in World Cup

A formidable Indian team comprising the in-form Jeev Milkha Singh and seasoned pro Jyoti Randhawa will spearhead the Asian challenge at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup which begins here on Thursday.
Jeev has been in sparkling form this year, winning titles on three different Tours, and with Randhawa too showing signs of regaining his touch, the Indians represents Asia’s best best this week.

Thai pro Thongchai Jaidee said Asian players like Jeev have proved their mettle in the recent past and there simply cannot be any pre-tournament favourites.

“Asians players are getting strong. Anybody can win tournaments these days, said Jaidee, a two-time Asian number one.

For Jeev, ranked 45th in the world, things could not have been better this season.

The Bank of Australia title on the European Tour was followed by the Nagashima Shigeo Invitational Sega Sammy Cup in Japan before the Indian went on to lift the USD five million Singapore Open which also assured him of his second Asian Tour Order of Merit title.

Though Jeev finished just outside the top 10 in the Hong Kong Open last week, the 11th place finish there consolidated his place in the top 50 and the seasoned pro has already announced that he is determined to make a mark in his World Cup debut.

Golf: Jeev finishes 11th

A poor start spiked Jeev Milkha Singh’s hopes of a second successive Asian Tour title and the in-form Indian signed off with a decent one-under 69 for a tied 11th finish in the $2.5 million Hong Kong Open here on Sunday.

Going into the final round three shots off the lead, Jeev needed something special to follow up his Singapore Open triumph with another victory here but a hattrick of bogeys on his front nine put paid to any such ambitions and the Indian aggregated 11-under 269 for a tied 11th finish.

Lin Wen-tang beat Francesco Molinary and Rory McIlroy in the play-off to lift the title after the trio were levelled at 265.

After the bogeys on the third, fourth and fifth, it was always a catching up job for Jeev and the Indian responded well by hitting back-to-back birdies to take the turn at one-over.

On his way back, Jeev birdied the 11th and 13th holes and signed off on a bogey-birdie note for yet another impressive outing.

Among other Indians in the fray, Jyoti Randhawa (272) carded a three-under 67 to finish tied 19th, while Gaurav Ghei’s (277) even-par 70 had him tied 48th. Ghei’s final round of even par 70 saw him make three birdies and three bogeys.

Taiwan’s Lin birdied the second play-off hole to edge out McIlroy and Molinari in a dramatic climax to become the event’s first Asian winner in a decade.

The three players had finished the co-sanctioned tournament on 15-under and Italy’s Molinari was the first to be eliminated on the opening extra hole when he could only manage a par-four on the 18th before a packed gallery.

Lin appeared to have blown his chances on the same hole when he pulled a drive into the left rough.

However, he nailed an audacious 150-yard shot through a tiny gap in the trees to land his approach to within six feet of the pin, from where he made a birdie to force a second hole play-off with Northern Ireland’s McIlroy.

On the next hole, the 18th again, it was McIlroy who scuffed his drive into the left rough, while Lin drove straight down the fairway and chipped to within inches of the cup to set up his biggest ever victory.

The last Asian to win the Hong Kong Open was South Korea’s Kang Wook-soon in 1998.

Lin had earlier squandered a chance to win the tournament in regulation, missing a short birdie putt on the 18th after a brilliant approach left him a few feet short of the cup.

The 34-year-old, who turned pro in 1996, is one of the island’s top golfers with three Asian Tour victories under his belt and can now add a European Tour title to his tally.

Overnight leader Oliver Wilson, again failed to live up to his promise and clinch a first professional win, the Briton fading over the back nine to finish a disappointing sixth place.

Wilson, who has finished second eight times, started strongly with a birdie on the first hole, but his putting let him down as he notched up a string of 10 pars and several late bogeys.

Germany’s Bernhard Langer, 51, who was a contender to become the European Tour’s oldest champion failed to maintain his sizzling form earlier, finishing three shots off the pace at 12-under overall.

Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol and Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal finished at 13-under.

The 19-year-old McIlroy gave a taste of his potential with some inspired golf and showed maturity beyond his years against a field packed with experienced professionals.

“As long as I can keep putting myself in these positions and feeling the nerves and the adrenaline, I’ll know I’m doing things right,” McIlroy said.

Golf: Jeev breaks into top 50

Jeev Milkha Singh is back among the elites again with the latest world golf rankings putting the Indian pro on the 46th place after his sensational triumph at the Singapore Open.

Jeev claimed a thrilling one-stroke victory over multiple Major winners Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els at the Singapore Open on the Asian Tour at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course on Sunday.

The Chandigarh-pro went to the last hole with a one stroke lead and his par was enough for the win as Harrington and Els missed good birdie chances on the 18th.

As a result of his triumph, which also virtually assured him the Asian Tour Order of Merit title, Jeev leapfrogged 14 spots to world number 46.

Jeev pocketed US $792,500 for his exploits in Singapore, making him the first golfer to earn more than $1 million on the Asian Tour.

Meanwhile, compatriot Jyoti Randhawa, who is grappling with poor form for quite a while, continues to slip down the ladder and was placed 144th.

US-based Arjun Atwal, who has secured his PGA Tour card for the next season, is ranked 192nd after failing to make the cut in Singapore.

The next Indian in the chart is Kolkata-pro SSP Chowrasia, who is way behind at 305th after failing to maintain his form which had seen him winning the Indian Masters last year.

Jeev signs off at 5th position

The Belfry (England), Sep 29 (PTI) A poor front nine marred Jeev Milkha Singh’s final round as he turned in a one-over 73 to settle for a tied fifth finish at the British Masters here.
The Seasoned pro, who was tied third overnight just three strokes off the pace, ended his campaign with a total of six-under 282.

The other Indian in fray, Shiv Kapur, had yet another disastrous outing, carding a 74 in the final round to finish tied 59th with a total of seven-over 295.

Jeev was off to a steady start as he parred his first five holes before hitting a rough patch. A double-bogey on the sixth hole was followed by another dropped stroke on the ninth as Jeev made the turn three-over.

The Indian went on damage control mode in his back-nine and reeled off birdies on the 10th and 13th to raise hopes of a comeback.

He managed another birdie on the 17th but a bogey on the preceding hole meant that Jeev failed to break par for the first time in the tournament.

Spaniard Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (67), who was tied for third spot with Jeev yesterday, clinched the title after beating Englishman Lee Westwood (70) in a play-off.

The duo was tied at 12-under 276 after the regulation four rounds. New Zealand’s Michael Campbell (72) settled for the third spot at 10-under 278. PTI

Jeev flies at the Masters

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh buried the ghost of his past at the Masters Tournament with a solid one-under-par 71 at Augusta National on Thursday.

The 2006 Asian Tour number one birdied all the par fives on a sun-kissed day at the year’s opening Major and was especially delighted with his par on the opening par four, 455-yard hole.

China’s Liang Wen-chong, meanwhile, endured a tough Masters debut when he signed for a 76, lamenting poor driving which often left him amongst the pine trees at Augusta National that led to six bogeys.

In his Masters debut last year, Singh ended his campaign in a creditable tied 37th place but left with a bitter taste in his mouth after a final day 79 that included an ugly quadruple bogey eight on the first hole.

“Oh yes,” beamed Singh when asked if he was delighted with his start.

“I drove the ball really well and hit it at the right places. I made a few mistakes but I think you’re allowed a few on this course. I’m pretty pleased with my round. I birdied all the par fives and had a few chances. The greens are tough and you can’t be too aggressive out there. I left a few short but I’m happy with one under par.

“It’s the best score in five rounds for me here at Augusta National. Under par on this course is always good. I’ll try to do the same tomorrow and maintain my process and routine.”

The tenacious Singh, three shots off the early first round lead, was staring at a bogey but drained a 12-foot putt for par on the opening hole to launch his campaign on a strong note. He had vowed to get the better of the hole which brought him down on his knees 12 months ago.

“It was a good par. I holed a 12 foot putt so that got me going,” said Singh, who outscored playing partners, reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington and 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir by three and two shots respectively.

With the course drying out after a one-hour fog delay, Singh said he was always cautious on the devilish greens.

“The course was playing different from the practice rounds. The greens were quicker and firmer but we’d expected that. The course is in excellent condition,” said Singh.

Singh said that when he received the Masters invitation in January, it gave him a huge confidence boost which resulted in two runner-up finishes in Indonesia and Korea.

“When you get invited to one of the best Majors in the world, you get a jump start. I am happy to be here and I did play well after getting the invite. Things fell into place and I had two seconds, which I should have won. But I’m here now and that’s in the past and I aim to make the most from this,” he said.

Liang felt the might of the 7,445-yard Augusta National course as he pencilled two birdies and six bogeys on his card.

“I definitely felt the challenge that it provided. I think I can do better. My driver wasn’t good as I kept hitting it left and right. On the short putts, I didn’t stroke them solidly enough. I could see the lines but didn’t give it enough,” said the 2007 Asian Tour’s Order of Merit champion.

The 29-year-old, one of three Asian Tour players invited to the Masters, said he was calm on the first tee despite being at his first Masters but sent his drive into the fairway bunker which led to a bogey.

He birdied the par-five second hole after finding the green in two but three putt bogeys on the third and sixth hole took away the momentum that he was hoping to build upon. Three more bogeys on the back nine against another birdie on the par five 15 saw him sign matching halves of 38s.

“I didn’t feel any different on the first tee shot. I treated it like any other tournament. However, there was such a big crowd on the golf course and I was always concerned of hitting stray shots into the crowds. My playing partner Rory Sabbatini hit a spectator on the ninth green and it shocked me a little bit,” he said.

Liang believes he can still play his way into the weekend rounds and become the first Chinese to do so.

“I will try harder tomorrow, I think I can do better on this course,” said Liang.

“Golf requires a solid foundation and on a course like this, it will test your skills and it showed that I still need improvements.”

He also hoped that his presence at the prestigious Masters will spur young Chinese kids to learn the game and become world beaters. “I’m sure a lot of people back home are watching the Masters on TV as golf is a growing sport back home.

“The media now covers golf and everyone can watch the Masters. I hope I can be the role model and I’m sure the younger generation can do better as they have better resources and facilities behind them now. I started playing when I was 15 but the kids now are learning the game at a much younger age,” he said.