Jeev finishes tied 36th, produces best-ever result at major

Oakmont, June 18 (UNI) A disappointing five-over 75 final round notwithstanding, Jeev Milkha Singh notched up his best-ever finish at a major when he ended the US Open campaign at tied 36th -- a place above his previous best result, which came at the Augusta Masters earlier in April.

The Indian ace, however, was poised for even better finish but a horrendous front nine on a treacherous layout did him in as he dropped four strokes to turn at four-over.

The Asian No 1 was more cautious on the backward journey. He pulled one back at the par-5 12th with a perfectly timed birdie.

However, a lapse in concentration towards the end, which saw him making two more bogeys, put paid to his hopes of a higher finish.

Jeev aggregated 18-over 298 in his four rounds, 13 strokes behind the champion, Angel Cabrera of Argentina who carded 69 to pip Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by a stroke and become only the second South American to win a major.

The big-hitting Argentine, who started the day six strokes adrift of the the lead, blasted five birdies at a time when ever par putts were a luxury for others.

Consecutive bogeys on the 16th and 17th saw him finishing five-over 275 leaving Woods and Furyk needing a birdie on their last holes to force a play off.

However, both the former champions failed to gain the much-need stroke allowing Cabrera to emulate the success of compatriot Roberto de Vicenzo who defeated another legend Jack Nicklaus to win the British Open 40 years ago.

For Woods, chasing his 13th major, it was again so near and yet so far as the World No 1 finished runner up for second time in a row. In the Masters earlier this year, Woods had finished second behind fellow American Zach Johnson.

Swede Niclas Fasth (70) was sole fourth place at seven-over while a stroke behind were Americans David Toms (72) and Bubba Watson (74).

Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy finished a poor tied 42nd, a stroke behind Jeev. Infact Jeev's show was better than some of the big names in golf including major winners Zach Johnson, Ben Curtis, Jose Maria Olazabal (all tied 45th at 20-over), Ernie Els (tied 51st at 21-over) and Michael Campbell (tied 58th at 24-over).

UNI