The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Jeev stumbles on the back nine

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Saturday, Aug 11, 2007
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Sport - Golf

Jeev stumbles on the back nine

GOLF / Randhawa taken ill

Tulsa: Indian golfers started on a wrong note as Jeev Milkha Singh endured a nightmarish back nine to card six-over 76 while Jyoti Randhawa withdrew due to viral fever on the first day of the PGA Championships at the Southern Hills Country Club on Thursday.

Daniel Chopra, the third player with an Indian connection, also shot a six-over 76 but with six-over on front nine, which was his second nine.

Both Jeev and Chopra were tied 103rd at the year’s fourth and final Major Championships Southern Hills Country Club.

Daly delights

The surprise leader was England’s Graeme Storm, who shot a superb five-under 65 to be in the van.

The charismatic John Daly, with a 67, was in second place on a day when only 12 players came under par.

Five bogeys

Three-times champion Tiger Woods, who racked up four birdies and five bogeys, felt he hit the ball better than his scoring indicated. He was one-over-71

“That’s a good sign heading into the next three days,” said the world number one, who is desperate to win his first Major in 12 months. “I just need to clean up my round a little bit.”

Of the other big names in the 153-strong field, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia opened with 70s, Ernie Els a 72 and 2005 winner Phil Mickelson a 73.

Atwal in 63rd spot

Arjun Atwal found his putting form deserting him as he managed only a one-under 70 in the opening round of the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic golf tournament at Moosic.

Atwal is lying 63rd and needs to improve quickly to have a chance of moving from his current 46th place on Nationwide Money List to come into top-25 for a PGA Tour card for 2008.

Chad Collins shot a nine-under 62 to take the lead. — Agencies

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