Jeev tied 28th, off-colour Randhawa tied 90th in US Open

Mamaroneck, New York, June 16 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh's steady three-over 73 earned him a share of the 28th spot while compatriot Jyoti Randhawa stuttered to an opening round of 77 to be tied for 90th amid testing conditions in the US Open here.

Debutant Randhawa, playing his back nine first, started with a birdie but that turned out to be a false dawn as nine bogeys flowed from his erratic clubs as against the two birdies in a nightmarish round.

Jeev, a 10th tee starter, looked more at ease in his second appearance in the major with family members cheering for him.

After three par shots, Jeev double bogeyed the par-five 12th hole and dropped two more bogeys. He, however, never let the situation go out of hand and a birdie on the fifth -- his 14th -- followed by four pars meant he ended day one with a decent finish at the testing par-70 Winged Foot Golf Club.

''I am happy with the way I played as I putted really well today,'' Jeev later said.

''The course is tough, even the greens are difficult but it is the same for everybody playing here. My first round was a bit edgy but the highlight for me today was how well I chipped and putted.

''I am feeling good. I am definitely happy with my first round performance and will be looking forward to an exciting day tomorrow,''he added.

Considered the best player never to have won a major, 42-year-old Scot Colin Montgomerie took a one-shot lead over Phil Mickelson at the top of the table.

Star players too found the going difficult in the hostile conditions and even Tiger Woods battled his way to a round of 76, thus equalling his worst opening score in a major as a professional.

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