Strong start by Jeev Milkha Singh in Abu Dhabi
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-01-16 19:12 GMT
Abu Dhabi: Jeev Milkha Singh opened the new season with a three-under 69 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf today.
Of the other two Indians in the fray, Shiv Kapur returning to the Tour after a gap of a year shot one-under 71 and Gaganjeet Bhullar was one-under at the 13th hole with play still going on. Matthew Baldwin, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Romain Wattel were tied in lead at five-under 67 each. Eight others were at four-under 68.
Jeev, who was dogged by injuries through 2013, had a bogey on 12th after teeing up from 10th. He birdied the 13th, 18th, third and sixth and dropped no more shots for his 69. Kapur bogeyed second and fifth and turned in two-over, but three birdies on 10th, 13th and 15th brought him under-par.
Bhullar had three birdies and two bogeys with five more holes to go. Jeev admitted he was still hampered by his shoulder injury.
"I took 20 days off and came early to Dubai and practised at Jumeriah Estate. But I must admit, the shoulder is still not too good. I am taking six anti-inflammatory (injections). I will play these three weeks and then take a break," Jeev said.
"But I am feeling good with the game. I want to build confidence and take it from there. Once you get injured the confidence level goes down, but I just want to keep the pain away and play freely."
As for the film based on his father's life, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, getting awards, Jeev was beaming and said, "My father's film getting lot of awards. It has been received well and created a big buzz. It's given him another five years!"
Lahiri tied eighth despite late double bogey in Kings Cup
Lahiri tied eighth despite late double bogey in Kings Cup
Hua Hin: Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri seemed headed for a fine and flawless outing before a late double bogey blotted his first round card in the Kings Cup at Hua Hin today.
Lahiri, starting on the 10th, was five-under through 15 holes before dropping a double bogey on the seventh, his 16th hole of the day. His round of 69 placed him tied eighth and four-behind joint leaders Prom Meesawat of Thailand and Swede Rikard Karlberg.
Jyoti Randhawa and SSP Chowrasia shot two-under 70 each to be tied 17th, while Rahil Gangjee, who had five different outcomes on five successive holes from 10th to 14th, shot 71 to be tied 31st. Gangjee shot birdie-par-double bogey-eagle and bogey in succession from 10th to 14th.
Digvijay Singh (72) was 42nd, while Chiragh Kumar, Sujjan Singh and Abhinav Lohan carded 75 each to be 86th and Himmat Rai shot 77 to be tied 122nd.
"(I am) obviously disappointed to finish the way I did but I think I played really well. I probably only missed two shots all day - on number seven where I hit the ball in the wrong spot. Otherwise it would have been a flawless round," Lahiri said.
Describing his travails on the seventh, he said, "I was in the fairway trap and over-calculated the wind and hit it over the back and got my ball plugged in the downslope of the greenside bunker. It was impossible to hit a clean shot from there and I hit my next shot into the other greenside bunker!"
But quickly he composed himself and added, "I would have liked to play better give how I played in the middle of the round. Having said that, I'll be happy if I can keep shooting in the 60s." Interestingly, Prom lives in Hua Hin, while Karlberg, puts down Hua Hin's Black Mountain as his home course. Both shot seven-under-par 65 at the USD one million event.
Karlberg also celebrated his engagement to long-time girlfriend, while Prom, who lost play-offs in the Philippines and Hong Kong late last year, is propelled by the need to win here to earn his place with Team Asia at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia in March.
Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang posted a 66 to trail the co-leaders by one alongside three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que of the Philippines. The conditions were gusty in the morning, but the 29-year-old Prom did well to land two eagles, five birdies and two bogeys.