Jeev second in EPGA

NEW DELHI, JAN 21: Chiranjeev Milkha Singh, the lone Indian in the highly-competitive European PGA tour, will begin his quest for Mercede...

NEW DELHI, JAN 21: Chiranjeev Milkha Singh, the lone Indian in the highly-competitive European PGA tour, will begin his quest for Mercedes Benz-Vodacom South African Open, from a rather unusual position.

The 27-year-old Chandigarh-based pro will play at the 7,112-yard, par-71 Stellenbosch Golf Club course, host to the second event of the European PGA tour’s 1999 season, perched in second spot of latest Volvo Order of Merit list. Jeev began the season with a bang when he achieved his best-ever finish with a tie for the third place at the 400,000-Pound Alfred Dunhill South African PGA Championship last week, which earned him 25,803 Euros.

Leading the order of merit is the defending champion Ernie Els, who will be looking for back-to-back title after winning last week.

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Though Jeev finished third at Alfred Dunhill South African PGA Championship, Richard Kaplan, the runner-up, is not a qualified member of European PGA tour. Kaplan played on a South African PGA slot.

Jeev tees off at 8.10 am from tee number10 along with Roger Wessels and Hennie Walters, both South Africans.

While twice US Open champion Ernie Els will definitely start as the favourite, the other big names in the tournament include England’s Nick Faldo, winner of six Majors, German Bernhard Langer, Welshman Lan Woosnam, South African David Frost and Sam Torrance of Scotland.