Jeev finishes tied sixth

Jeev finishes tied sixth
Express News Service

NEW DELHI, March 4: Jeev Milkha Singh, the only Indian on the European PGA Tour, played steady golf on the final day to submit a one-under 71 card which gave him a tied sixth place finish in the million-pound Dubai Desert Classic, which concluded at the Emirates Golf Club, in Dubai, today.

The tournament was won by world No 18 Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, who cashed in on a spectacular blowout by world No 1 Tiger Woods on the final hole. Jeev was tied for the sixth place at 17-under 271 along with Brian Davis of England. Jeev and Davis received 32,500 pounds ($ 48,750) each.

Jeev, who is sponsored by India.com and Hero Honda Motors, thus retained his card on the European Tour for the season. He was playing on a medical exemption and needed to make almost $ 65,000 in 11 starts. He has earned more than the target figure in just seven tournaments. ``I am extremely happy to have achieved my first goal of the season. By retaining my card I will have the freedom of choosing my events for the rest of the season,'' said the Indian ace.

This was Jeev's fourth best finish on the European Tour. He was runner-up in the 1999 South African Open and tied third place in the same season during the South African PGA Championship. In 2000 Malaysian Open, he was tied for fifth place.

Jeev made a birdie on his second hole, but that was negated by a bogey when he missed his up-and-down on the longest par-3 of the course, the fourth hole. He was back to one-under for the day with a birdie on the fifth hole and then played the rest of the holes to par. ``It was very windy out there today and the pins were placed in difficult positions. But I am not complaining as I played very solid throughout,'' he said over phone from Dubai.

``I am very happy and satisfied with my sixth place, considering this was one of the most high-profile event on the European Tour calendar. To finish ahead of Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke is quite an achievement considering that I missed most of last season due to the wrist injury. This would be a good morale-booster for me as I now head to Japan for two events on the Japanese PGA Tour,'' added Jeev.

SCORES (after 72 holes):266 -- Thomas Bjorn (Den) 64 66 67 69; 268 -- Padraig Harrington (Ire) 66 69 64 69, Tiger Woods (USA) 64 64 68 72; 270 -- Ian Woosnam (Wal) 69 68 64 69, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 68 68 66 68; 271 -- Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67 66 67 71, Brian Davis (Eng) 69 65 67 70; 272 -- Trevor Immelman (RSA) 66 73 68 65; 273 -- Elliot Boult (Nzl) 69 69 70 65, Paul McGinley (Ire) 70 64 67 72, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 66 70 65 72; 274 -- Richard Green (Aus) 67 73 67 67, Eamonn Drcy (Ire) 68 67 70 69, Greg Owen (NZl) 70 68 67 69, Jean-Francois Remesey (Fra) 68 68 68 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 70 66 67 71; 275 -- David Lynn (Eng) 70 71 66 68, Lee Westwood (Eng) 66 70 69 70, Andrew Oldcorn (Sco) 71 66 68 70, Retief Goosen (RSA) 70 68 67 70.