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Jeev fails, Atwal qualifies for US Open
Jeev Milkha Singh fell by the wayside but compatriot Arjun Atwal raised his game when it mattered most to qualify for this year's US Open golf tournament.
Jeev Milkha Singh fell by the wayside but compatriot Arjun Atwal raised his game when it mattered most to qualify for this year's US Open golf tournament.
Orlando-based Atwal grabbed one of the seven tickets at the Woodmont Country Club after the 2003 Asia number one posted a total of 138 -– after rounds of 68 and 70 -- to secure a spot among the elite field.
Atwal is riding a rich vein of form where he finished tied 17th at the Valero Texas Open followed by an impressive seventh place finish at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Elsewhere in Columbus, Jeev was not equally lucky. Jeev needed a place among the top 15 to unlock the door but all he managed today was a tied 55th finish to miss the qualification mark of the US Open.
With only 15 seats up for grabs for the 120-man field, Jeev needed something extraordinary to gatecrash into the elite bracket but his rounds of 71 and 72 left him with a 36-hole total of one-under 143 which was simply not enough.
Indian-origin Swede Daniel Chopra also failed to qualify, having totalled 139 after rounds of 72 and 67.
In his opening round at the Lakes Golf & Country Club, Jeev sunk five birdies as against four bogeys to return a sub-par card. His second round at the Brookside Golf & Country Club, however, saw him finishing even-par after a wobbly front nine in which the 10th tee starter dropped three bogeys.
Those who made the cut from the sectional qualification at the Columbus District Golf Association are Eric Axley (127), Terry Pilkadaris (134), Stuart Appleby (134), Brendon De Jonge Matthews (135), Alex Cejka (135), Bo Van Pelt Tulsa (135), Hugo Leon Tequesta (135), Ben Curtis Stow (135), Thomas Lehman Scottsdale (135), Aaron Baddeley (136), Alex Martin Liberty (137), Davis Love III (137), Harrison Frazar (137), John Mallinger (137) and Derek Lamely (137).
Jeev made his US Open debut in 2002, finishing tied 62nd and made three other appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2009 in the second of golf's four majors.
A total of 60 berths were on offer in 13 sectional qualifying tournaments for this year's US Open to be held at Pebble Beach from June 17-20.
Jeev plays in the St Jude Classic this week at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
