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Jeev misses out on British Open berth

India's Jeev Milkha Singh failed to qualify for this week's British Open after adding a disappointing two-over-par 73 to his opening 66 at the Monifieth Links Golf Club.

Singh's two-round total of three-under-par 139 was two strokes away from qualification and one shot adrift of a five man play-off for three places.

''I played poorly and did not deserve to qualify,'' said Singh.

"Conditions were very good so I should not have shot over par. I had a couple of bad breaks but there were no excuses.''

After his opening 66, Singh was in second place and comfortably held one of the 12 spots that would allow him to qualify for the British Open at Carnoustie Golf Club.

In the second round, however, the Indian struggled to maintain his form and started with a bogey on the first and a double bogey on the second, after hitting his tee shot out of bounds.

He also bogied the fifth hole but clawed his way back into contention with birdies on eight and nine.

''I made a bogey on 15 and that really finished me,'' said Singh. ''I just couldn't make a putt on the back nine.''

On the par five 18th, Singh reached the green in two and narrowly missed his eagle putt that would have put him in the play-off. He made four but it proved to be one too many.

''It has been a tough year,'' said Singh. ''I am playing really well but seem to follow too many good rounds with a bad one. I plan to play in the Dutch and European Opens next before heading home for a break.''

Singh was one of 33 players from the Asian PGA who were trying to qualify for the Open.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and Venezuela's Gilberto Morales both qualified for Carnoustie.

Four venues were used for the 36 holes qualifiers and at each club over 120 players were competing for 12 places in the Open.

A total of eight Indian players were trying to qualify. The second best India performance came from Amandeep Johl who returned rounds of 71 and 70 at Montrose Links Golf Cclub. His one under par two-day total was five short of the qualifying mark. Johl was actually four under for the tournament on the 14th but triple bogied the hold after finding deep rough off the tee.

Like Singh, Jyoti Randhawa was also playing at Monifieth and missed qualification after firing rounds of 75 and 70. At downfield Vivek Bhandari fired 73 and 76, while Feroze Ali carded 78 and 76.

Amritinder Singh shot 82 and 76 at Panmure Golf Club, while Arjun Atwal and Arjun Singh both withdrew from Montrose after opening with rounds of 76 and 77 respectively.

UNI