By IANS,
London : Jeev Milkha Singh faltered at the final step with two bogeys in the last three holes and dropped to tenth in the final standings of the European Open golf Sunday as bad weather took a toll on the players.
The tenth place finish, while being very creditable meant he missed out on what could have been a great chance to finish in top-5 and earn a berth into the British Open at Royal Birkdale.
Jeev needing to be in the top five and be the leading non-exempt player for British open berth endured his worst round of the week as he succumbed to a double bogey on eighth besides three other bogeys against just three birdies to finish with a three-over 75 that saw him finish the week at four-under 284.
Jeev starting the day in tied seventh and at seven-under opened with a birdie, but gave that shot up on the very next hole. A birdie followed on the fifth, but again he dropped a bogey on sixth and then with the windy being aggressive, he dropped a double bogey on the par-3 seventh hole.
On the back nine, Jeev birdied the tenth and then missed a couple of birdie putts and then just towards the end, when he was in with a chance to finish in top-5, he dropped bogeys on 16th and 17th and finished with a 75.
Englishman Ross Fisher battled adverse weather and a world class field to win tournament in emphatic style. The 27-year-old, who began the tournament with a course-record 63, completed a majestic seven stroke win by holing a bunker shot on the last. He played his final round in 68 to finish 20-under and seven shots clear of second place Sergio Garcia (66) who was 13-under after starting the day at seven-under.
Before this week, Fisher, who qualified for the British Open in Sunningdale, had contemplated pulling out of this event because of tiredness.
Fisher, three ahead of closest challenger Graeme McDowell and nine clear of Garcia overnight, finished with a 68 for a 20 under par total – and with it moved from 21st in the Ryder Cup standings to 11th.
The win was Fisher’s second on The European Tour and having done it in such style against some of the circuit’s biggest names.
Northern Irishman McDowell took third place after a closing 73 and that put him in the tenth and last automatic spot in the Ryder Cup standings.
South African David Frost, at 48 trying to become the oldest winner in The European Tour’s history, finished fourth and that gave him The Open exempt spot up for grabs at the event.