The Indian duo of Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa did the country and the Asian Tour proud when they qualified for the US Open through sectional qualifying at Walton Heath, England.
NEW DELHI: The Indian duo of Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa did the country and the Asian Tour proud when they qualified for the US Open through sectional qualifying at Walton Heath, England. And the icing on the cake was Randhawa’s tied second finish with superb rounds of 71 and 67 out of a field of 47 players while compatriot Jeev, currently leading the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, finished a stroke behind in equal fifth place with rounds of 70 and 69.
It will be Randhawa’s first appearance in the US Open, which will be played at Winged Foot in New York later this month, while Jeev had qualified and played in all four rounds at the US Open in 2002 which was his maiden major appearance then.
Dutchman Maarten Lafeber comfortably claimed top spot at Walton Heath with rounds of 64 and 66 where eight places to Winged Foot were at available for the year’s second Major.
Randhawa earned his place with a second round 67 which included six birdies in the last nine holes.
Delighted with the success of the Indian duo, Asian Tour chief executive Louis Martin said, “This is a double celebration for Indian golf and the Asian Tour. Jeev and Jyoti are amongst the best players in the region and we are confident they will represent their country and the Asian Tour well in New York.”
Jeev has been a revelation this season — ending a seven-year title drought by winning the Volvo China Open in Beijing. Randhawa, Asia’s number one in 2002, has also played solidly in his rookie season in Europe and was tied 14th in last week’s Celtic Manor Wales Open.
Balky putter ends Wie’s hopes
SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY: Teenager Michelle Wie was two birdies away from a chance at becoming the first woman to play in the men’s US Open golf championship before a balky putter ended her quest on Monday. Wie, who won her local qualifying in Hawaii to earn the right to compete at Canoe Brook, finished 68-75 for 143, five shots out of a playoff in a tie for 59th. After masterfully managing her game with thousands of fans following her every shot, Wie turned aggressive with the putter and paid the price with three bogeys in a row during the last nine that scuttled her challenge.
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