Jeev turns in gutsy performance; tied 21st after round 2

Augusta, Georgia, April 12 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh fired a two-over-par 74 at the Masters Tournament to occupy the tied 21st position and safely make the halfway cut with an overall score of one over 145.

Jeev who was the Asian Tour's number one in 2006, battled tough playing conditions at Augusta National Golf Club, turning in 35 before dropping three bogeys, including two at the notorious Amen Corner.

''I drove the ball poorly. I was disappointed with that and lost confidence on the back nine. I tried to hit it too hard with my driver and I think that's what got me. It was one of those things.

My rhythm became too quick,'' Jeev said.

''I was disappointed with 13. I had a lob wedge in and turned it into a bogey. I was trying on every hole. I had a goal of not shooting over par on any of the four days but I did that today,'' he added. ''I missed some good birdie chances but I made a few putts too, so no real complaints. I'm here for the weekend and I'm going to give it a go. I'm comfortable on the golf course and I love the way it sets up.

''I'm still alive for the weekend and we'll see what happens.

I'm pretty happy with the invitation (from Augusta National) and if I can finish in the top-15 or top-20, I think that will justify that. That's the goal now. I don't feel like I have to justify the invitation but if I can do it, I will feel good about it.'' After saving par from 12 feet on the seventh hole, Jeev got to red numbers with a two-putt birdie on the par five eighth hole.

But he gave the shot back on the 11th hole, the first of a three-hole stretch that forms the notorious Amen Corner, after sending an errant drive into the pine trees.

Jeev hit an exquisite approach into the par three 12th but failed to convert the six-foot birdie chance and was disappointed to drop another shot on the par five 13th hole when he sent a lob wedge approach into the greenside bunker.

His fine performance saw him maintain his perfect Masters record where he is now two-for-two for cuts made in the year's opening Major. He will enter the weekend rounds in tied 21st position with US Open champion Angel Cabrera and British Open winner Padraig Harrington and nine shots behind leader Trevor Immelman of South Africa.

Daniel Chopra of Sweden(72, 78), the other professional in the field with an Indian connection, failed to make the cut as he totaled six over 150 for the first two rounds.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods (72, 71) moved into tied 13th place with a total of one under 143.

UNI XC RKM AB RK1550