Jeev Milkha Singh was unable to continue the momentum of a brilliant start with four birdies, while Jyoti Randhawa dropped five shots over two successive holes on the back nine to finish tied 11th in the Maybank Malaysian Open, in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Jeev (72) and Jyoti (74) finished at eight-under, even as South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen atoned for his Masters Tournament heartbreak by cruising to a stylish three-stroke victory.
Jeev and Jyoti though were still the top Asians finishers in the tournament. Gaurav Ghei (71) ended in tied 40th place at two-under 286 and Shiv Kapur (75) was even par for the week and tied 52nd.
Randhawa, Asia's No. 1 in 2002, was in contention for most of the round before dropping five shots on holes 13 and 14. He was still delighted with his best result since the 2011 Panasonic Open India where he placed fifth.
"If you take those two (bad) shots away then I would have finished higher. At least I know why those bad shots came, because the old swing came in. I birdied after those shots so that was a good comeback. All in all I think I'm feeling good. I just need to give it a little bit more time," said Randhawa.
Jeev got off to a flying start with four straight birdies to move into contention but three bogeys in the middle of the round and a double bogey on 16 killed his hopes.
"I had a great start. I think I got ahead of myself and gave a few shots away. I thought I got really unlucky on 16, I hit a great shot in there but it rolled into the water. That set me back and I shot even par. Hopefully it gets better from here," said Singh.
A week after losing in a play-off to American Bubba Watson at Augusta National, Oosthuizen, 29, underlined his star credentials by overcoming jetlag, searing heat and a stellar field assembled at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, closing with a solid four-under-par 68 for a 17-under-par 271 winning total.
Scotsman Stephen Gallacher carded a battling 70 for second place while American David Lipsky finished joint third and two shots back after a 70 alongside Danny Willett of England (71) and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello (71).
Oosthuizen, who received the Seagram Trophy from Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and also the champion's navy blue jacket, said, "It would have been better if I had the green jacket (laughter) but I'm a little bit surprised because I thought I would be tired. I played well and the game was there so it made it a lot easier. I had a good week."
The South African, the 2010 British Open champion, returned to the course this morning to complete his third round with a 69 for a one-shot lead into the final 18 holes.
With his game in full flow, he was in total control before breaking away with a birdie on the 13th hole before putting the icing on the cake with another birdie on 16.
© 2025 Rediff.com -