Thaindian News

Doral (Florida), March 14 (IANS) India’s top golfer Jeev Milkha Singh ran into problems over the finish, dropping three shots in the last holes, including a double bogey on the 18th, as he slipped from tied first to eighth at the halfway stage of the $8.5 million WGC-CA Championships at the Doral Golf Resort in Florida.
Jeev was lying at eight-under 136, while world No. 3 Phil Mickelson moved into sole lead with a second round of six-under 66 that carried him to 13-under after the second round Friday.

“I putted well enough, but made a couple of errors and that included a double on 18th, but there’re still two more days to go and I am feeling good,” said Jeev.

Jeev was lying within striking distance of Mickelson with two holes to go. He was at 11-under with five birdies and no bogeys after the 12th, before the round became topsy-turvy.

He dropped shots on 13th and 14th and then picked a birdie on 16th. But a bogey on 17th and a double on the 18th put him back to 71 for the day with six birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Finishing problems cost Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, too. He dropped a triple on the 18th and was lying tied fifth at nine-under.

Yang Yong-eun of South Korea, who won the Honda Classic last week, was tied 50th after a 70 while Mark Brown of New Zealand carded a 71 to be in equal 58th place. Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang shot a 70 to move into 64th place in the elite field while K.J. Choi of Korea was in 67th place after a second straight 73.

Mickelson took a two-shot lead and the group includes Nick Watney (67), winner of the Buick Invitational and Kenny Perry, winner of FBR Open, who had a 64 was tied third with Rory McIlroy (66).

Tiger Woods was tied 35th after a second round 70 and is now three-under for 36 holes.

Mickelson was at 13-under 131 and will play the third round with Watney, the only player at Doral who has yet to make a bogey. McIlroy, the 19-year-old from Northern Ireland who is trying to become the youngest PGA Tour winner in history, finished with an eagle and a birdie on two dangerous holes for a 66 and was two shots behind.