Jeev leapfrogs to 55th in golf ranking, close to US Masters dream

New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh took a giant leap forward to climb up to 55 in the latest Official World Golf Rankings, thus inching close towards his goal of breaking into the top 50, which would earn him an invitation to the US Masters next April.

Among his compatriots, Indian Open winner Jyoti Randhawa hangs on to his 80th place, to remain the only second Indian in the top 100.

This has been an extra-ordinary year for Jeev and the Indian lifted his third title of the season when he won the Casio World Open by two strokes yesterday.

Jeev thus won three titles no three different Tours -- Asian, European and Japan -- to cap a brilliant year.

Jeev had earlier won the Volvo China Open in April and Volvo Masters in Spain in October. Last week, he clinched his first ever Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit title after finishing joint third in the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Apart from the title, Jeev has also registered 14 other top-tens around the world.

Jeev was ranked 63rd in the official rankings last week and the Indian insists he wants to break into the top-50, which will earn him an invitation to the US Masters next April.

Jeev will tee off in next month's Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok, eying a Volvo treble and a decent show there can well propel him into the elite league of top 50.

Son of legendary runner Milkha Singh, Jeev, after winning the Volvo Masters in Spain, had announced his next target to win an invitation for US Masters.

''A goal of mine now will be to get into the top-50 in the world, which will also earn me an invite to the US Masters. I've just won a major event in Europe, now I want to play well in the Majors.'' Jeev would be the first Indian to qualify for the Masters if he touches the top 50 in the year-end rankings or in the week before the event.

''The Masters is an exciting prospect. I do hope to get into it,'' he said.

Among his compatriots, Shiv Kapur, who would defend his Volvo Masters title next month, moved up for rungs to 171, while Gaurav Ghei, winner of the Taiwan Masters, is at 214.

Orlando-based Arjun Atwal, who failed to secure his PGA Tour card after a highly disappointing season, plummetted further to 255th, according to information received here today.

UNI AY YA VV1608