Jeev tied at 77th spot in US Open

Oakmont, Pennsylvania, June 15 (UNI) Jeev Milkha Singh got off to a shaky start at the Oakmont Country Club, considered one of the toughest layouts, after the first round of the US Open here.

However, the ace Indian golfer's card of five-over 75 in rain-softened conditions did not prove too costly as only four strokes separated him from world no.1 Tiger Woods.

The highest ranked Indian golfer sunk six bogeys in all, including a hat-trick of bogeys from the fifth hole against a lone birdie in the 17th hole.

Jeev, the highest ranked Indian golfer, has been paired with American Anthony Kim and Hawaiian Dean Wilson in the first two rounds here.

Jeev has never failed to make the cut in his previous three Major starts and he would be doing his best to keep intact that proud record.

Britain's Nick Dougherty fired a two-under-par 68 to forge one shot clear of the chasing pack.

While world number one Tiger Woods battled to a 71, Dougherty carded four birdies and two bogeys in his lowest score at a major championship, yesterday.

Dougherty, who won his only European Tour title at the 2005 Singapore Masters, birdied three of the last eight holes to end his round one ahead of big-hitting Argentine Angel Cabrera.

Twice US Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, who came close to an ace at the par-three sixth, and American Bubba Watson, making only his second appearance in the tournament, were next best on 70.

Woods, Fijian Vijay Singh, third-ranked Jim Furyk and defending champion Geoff Ogilvy were among a crowded pack of 16 players at fifth spot at 71.

Woods, bidding for his 13th major victory, made a stumbling start after finding a fairway bunker off the first tee but was delighted with his par-birdie-par finish.

However, several big names effectively shot themselves out of contention, twice champion Retief Goosen double-bogeying the last for a 76 and world number six Henrik Stenson and Spaniard Sergio Garcia limping to 79s.

UNI