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: 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 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.