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Green and Singh share lead
15/05/2008 22:05 - (SA)
Adare - India's Jeev Milka Singh
and Australian Richard Green shared the lead after the opening
day of the Irish Open at Adare Manor on Thursday.
Green, aiming for a place in next month's US Open, joined
Singh at the top of the board with a six under par 66 in superb
conditions.
The duo were two strokes clear of German Marcel Siem,
Sweden's Johan Edfors, Welshman Bradley Dredge and France's
Michael Lorenzo-Vera who were tied in second place on four
under.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy was the leading Irish player
after signing off for a two under par 70 to end the round two
strokes clear of defending champion and reigning British Open
titleholder Padraig Harrington.
Green, 37, was returning to competition for the first time
since missing the cut on his debut appearance in last month's
US Masters.
After slipping outside the top 50 in the world rankings, the
68th ranked Australian is competing in Ireland and next week's
European Tour flagship BMW PGA Championship as a means of
qualifying for the US Open starting on June 12.
The Melbourne-born player will need to pick up the 18 places
by the close of play in next week's event in England to be
guaranteed entry into the US Open at Torrey Pines.
"I was top 50 in the world rankings at the end of last year,
that got me into the US Masters but I've since slipped down
the rankings so now I've come back to try and work my way back
into the 50," said Green after a round that included seven
birdies and just one bogey.
Landed in trees
"I want to remain in the top 50 till the end of the year as
it would get me back into Augusta," he added.
"If I get into the US Open it will mean I am into all four
Majors this year which is something I have never managed in my
career before."
Singh produced a bogey-free round in his search for a first
European Tour win this season to make-up for the disappointment
of losing out in a play-off in the recent Ballantine's
Championship in South Korea.
The Chandigarh-born player had to seek a ruling on the last
hole after his third shot landed in trees and close to
television cables.
After advice from a Tour official, Singh stepped gingerly
towards his ball with hands in pocket before superbly punching
his fourth shot out and some 40 feet past the flag from where he
managed to save par.
Singh's opening round 66 matched the score he recorded on
day one in 1999, the year he made his Irish Open debut.
"I've been playing really well this year and I've been
knocking on the door," said the Indian. "The only thing I can do
is just try, and hopefully something good comes my way."
Harrington recorded three birdies and a similar number of
bogeys. "I'm not happy with the score, but I'm happy with the
way I played," he said.
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