Jeev breaks into top 50, rises to 47th in rankings

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh achieved another milestone in a remarkable career by finally breaking into the top 50 and the 47th ranked Indian became the first from the country to qualify for next year's US Masters.

Ranked 55th last week, Jeev's triumph at the Nippon Series JT Cup -- his second straigth win on Japan Tour -- saw him leapfrog eight rungs to 47 in the latest Official World Golf Rankings issued today.

Compatriot Jyoti Randhawa, the only other Indian in top 100, remains static on 80th, while Shiv Kapur -- who defends his Volvo Masters of Asia title later this month -- slipped a rung to 172.

Seasoned Gaurav Ghei, who tasted triumph in Taiwan this year, too slid a rung to 215, while US-based Arjun Atwal, whose hopes to secure a full PGA Tour card seem over, lost five places to finish at 260, accoridng to information received here today.

It was a double delight for Jeev yesterday when he became the first Indian to qualify for the US Masters after claiming his fourth title of the season at the Nippon Series JT Cup in Tokyo.

This was his second successive triumph in Japan Tour, following his win in the Casio World Open.

Riding the form of his life, Jeev has been unstoppable this year as he lifted the Volvo China Open title in April and the Volvo Masters in Spain in October. He was recently crowned the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit winner after a joint third place finish at the UBS Hong Kong Open last month and his first triumph on Japan Tour came at Casio World Open last week.

Apart from the four wins, Jeev's steady game is reflected through his 14 other top-10s From here, Jeev heads off to the Asian Tour's season-finale Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok from December 14-17.

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