Greater Noida, 30-08-2024

Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa shine on day one of HSBC India Legends Championship; Swede Joakim Haeggman takes the lead with a 65

The legendary Indian duo of Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa were the shining stars for India on the first day of the US$ 500,000 HSBC India Legends Championship 2024 hosted by Jeev Milkha Singh, a tournament co-sanctioned by the Legends Tour and the PGTI, being played at the Jaypee Greens Golf Resort in Greater Noida.

Tournament host Jeev and Legends Tour Qualifying School winner Jyoti submitted cards of four-under 68 to be the highest-placed Indians in tied third position.

The lead was held by Swede Joakim Haeggman who shot a brilliant seven-under 65.

American Clark Dennis, making his first visit to India, was in second place after a round of 67 while Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva returned a 68 to be tied for third with Jeev and Jyoti.

Nine-time international winner Jyoti Randhawa started shakily, dropping three shots against one birdie before the turn that included two three-putts for bogeys. The 52-year-old sparked to life on the second nine, firing an astonishing sequence of birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie to pick up six strokes between the first and fifth holes. He finally closed the round with birdie-bogey on the eighth and ninth for a four-under score.

Randhawa, a 10th tee starter, said, “I had a poor start. It was not a good putting experience on the first nine, but then I got hot on the second nine and made some putts.  I knew what I wanted to do and I executed that in the second half of my round.

“The eagle on the second was great, I had also birdied the first. So that really kept me going. I think after the seventh hole, I just found out what I needed to do with my putting stroke because I was missing putts on the first nine. Then I just stuck with it on the second nine and made a lot of putts. After making two early bogeys, I’ll take a four-under any day.”

Teeing off from the front nine, 13-time international winner Jeev Milkha Singh played steady golf and picked up two strokes before the turn without a blemish on his card. The back nine was livelier with three birdies against one bogey that took him to four-under for the day.

Jeev said, “I've been playing very good golf in the last few weeks, to be honest. I've struggled with my short game, but it was a little better today. I've been working quite hard. I made five birdies and one bogey today.

“The bogey on the 13th shouldn't have happened because I was on the edge of the green. I was only 10 feet from the hole. But that's okay. I had a lot of birdie opportunities which I didn't convert. Nonetheless, I’m quite happy with the start. Tomorrow's another day and I look forward to having a good week.”

Among the other Indians, Amandeep Johl was the next best-placed at 73 in tied 19th with two birdies and three bogeys. The vastly-experienced Mukesh Kumar shot a 74 to be tied 29th while Harmeet Kahlon, Sanjay Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Vishal Singh and Digvijay Singh, were further down the leaderboard.