Sensational Jeev claims maiden Japan Tour title

Kochi, Japan, Nov 26 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh capped a memorable year by claiming his maiden Japan Tour title beating New Zealand's David Smail by two shots in the final round of the Casio World Open here today.

An eighth hole bogey was the only blemish in his sizzling four-under 68 on the final day as he totalled 16-under 272 to emerge winner and take home a prize money of 28,000,000 yen.

''I played really solid. The weather was not good as it was raining and cold but I played nicely. I went out there and birdied the first hole and putted well the whole round,'' Jeev said.

''This is my first win in Japan. I've been close a few times.

I've now won on three different Tours this season, it can't get any better than this. God has been good to me. It's been a perfect year,'' he added.

The UBS Order of Merit winner, who was a joint leader yesterday, was in sensational touch as he opened with a first-hole birdie and continued his march towards victory by sinking in two more on the fourth and seventh.

The dropped shot on the eighth pulled him back a bit but the Indian did not let things slip from there and hit a birdie on the 10th after making the turn at two-under.

The Indian then kept hitting par-shots till the 17th before signing off with a last hole birdie to claim his maiden Japan Tour title.

It has been a remarkable year for Jeev, who won the Volvo China Open in April and Volvo Masters in Spain last month. The seasoned pro then clinched his first ever Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit title after finishing joint third in the Hong Kong Open.

However, today's victory was no walk in the park as Smail kept coming at Jeev and narrowed the gap to one stroke with a birdie on 17th.

However, Jeev saved par on the 17th and then birdied his last hole for a two-stroke triumph.

''David played rock solid, it was an excellent match,'' Jeev said.

Ranked 63rd in the world, Jeev is all set to break into the top-50, which will earn him an invitation to the US Masters next April.

''I'm not sure where I'll be when the rankings come out on Monday but hopefully, it'll be good enough for me to get into the top-50,'' he said.

Jeev has also registered 14 top-10s around the world.

UNI XC PM RK1424