Jeev gearing up for big test

‘‘I played confidently this week and have shot four rounds under-par. I just needed a birdie on the last to get into a playoff today, but am happy with the result as I finished second after 2001. It is good to be back in contention,’’ he added.

After a first round 69, Jeev tied for the lead at the halfway stage after carding a seven-under-par, 65 in the second round, taking his 36-hole total to ten-under-par. However, Japanese golfer Mitsuhashi replaced him after the third round, carding a 63 to take his total to 16-under-par and opening a four-stroke gap going into the final round as Jeev trailed at 12-under-par for the week after shooting a 70. The final round was action-packed as Mitsuhashi made four birdies and a double bogey to make the turn at two-under, while Jeev birdied the second, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth holes to make the turn at five-under-par, 31.

However, he made an error on the par-four 11th hole, which resulted in his only dropped shot of the day after he three-putted from 20 feet. Jeev played consistently thereafter, but failed to make any more birdie putts even though he had good chances on the par-three 17th and par-five 18th holes.

However, he left both putts short on line and went on to card a one-over on the back nine to finish the round in 68. ‘‘The three-putt on the 11th was the turning point, I could have tied him if I had made par as a bogey looked inevitable for him as he was in trouble with his tee shot. But he immediately bounced back to birdied the 12th to take a two shot lead.’’

Jeev said he had two bad efforts – on the 17th – ‘‘I had a 15 feet uphill putt and left it short and I did the same on the 18th from a similar distance. I should have at least gone past the hole to give myself a chance.’’

However Jeev said overall he was happy with his perfomance and looked forward to carrying his form over the next two weeks. I am happy with my performance and am now looking forward to carrying this form into the next two weeks, as a good finish would result in helping me get a spot to play the British Open.’’

A second place this week earned the Indian approximately 700,000 million yen, which has almost ensured his playing rights for next year, after just his fifth event on the Japanese tour this year. Incidentally, last year was disappointing for Jeev – he had finished outside the top 70 and had to go back to the qualifying process to earn his card.