Jeev tied for 30th place
at Scottish Open

Indian golfing superstar Jeev Milkha Singh returned a one-under 70 under trying conditions to tie for the 30th position after the opening round of the Barclays Scottish Open, a premier event on the European PGA Tour, which started at Loch Lomond, Scotland.

A top-30 finish at this tournament exempts golfers from the final qualifying stages for the British Open, earning them a direct entry into the third major championship of the season. The British Open commences on July 18, 2002.

Justin Rose of England cracked an impressive six-under 65 to take the opening round lead. Miles Tunnicliff, also from England, was tied second with Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson at five-under 66.

The conditions were not the easiest at Loch Lomond with players continuing to play despite heavy showers which kept interspersing brilliant sunshine.

Hero Honda-sponsored Jeev began his round in style with two straight birdies. Another birdie on the sixth placed him at three-under at that stage. However, a bogey on the closing hole of his front-nine was followed by another on the 12th.

"I began very well but lost momentum somewhere along the line. My main aim is to finish in the top-30 and make it to the main draw of the British Open," said the 30-year old Jeev, who became the first Indian to make the cut at the US Open in June 2002.

Among the other leading stars, Ernie Els, the 2000 winner, was joined by European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance in a group of six players at three-under 68.

Previous winners at Loch Lomond, Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie, shot 72s apiece while Thomas Bjorn and Lee Westwood played to 75 and 76 respectively.

Arjun Atwal, the other Indian in the fray, disappointed with a score of three-over 74. This placed the Kolkatan at tied 102nd position. However, it must be said that Atwal did well to pull back two strokes in the closing stage of the round after being five-over on the 12th tee.