Crans Montana: Jeev Milkha Singh stumbled to a course management error and dropped a double bogey on the final hole to finish at one-under 71 in the second round at the Omega European Masters on Friday.
Jeev is now four-under for 36 holes and other Indians were yet to finish their second round. He was placed 20th provisionally.
“I had two management errors on 18 where I got greedy with my second shot. I made a double there but I think I played pretty good,” Jeev said. “I’m swinging and putting well. I just need to focus more on the management side and looking forward to the weekend.
“I’m in a good position that gives me the opportunity to get aggressive over the weekend,” he said.
In the first round, Jeev shot a bogey-free four-under 67 to lie in joint eighth place even as compatriots Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar carded one-under 70 each to lie tied 54th.
However, things did not pan out too well for the other three Indians Anirban Lahiri (73), SSP Chowrasia (74) and Jyoti Randhawa (76), who could be in danger of missing the halfway cut at the event jointly sanctioned by Asian and European Tours.
World number six Rory McIlroy, back in action after injuring his arm at the US PGA Championship three weeks ago, turned in 33 and added five birdies against one bogey on his homeward nine in a card of 65.
Also at 65 were Lee Sung, Martin Kaymer and Gary Boyd.
Jeev had birdies on the first, second, 15th and 17th and had no bogeys.
The best-placed Asian Tour player was Lee Sung of Korea, who birdied the last two holes to soar to an opening round six-under 65 yesterday and was one shot behind the leader Nick Dougherty, while Bangladeshi Siddikur and reigning Asian Tour number one Noh Seung-yul of Korea were two shots back at 69. The US Open champion, McIlroy, who played with Noh and title holder Miguel Angel Jimenez, lost in a play-off in the 2008 edition.
Dougherty finally had something to smile about this season when he began the Omega European Masters with an eight-under 63 at Crans-sur-Sierre. (PTI)