Jeev, Jyoti shoot best card of the week, lie ninth

Shenzhen (China), Nov 28: Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa delivered a seven-under 65, their best round of the week but still felt they left far too much out on the course on the third day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup golf here on Saturday.

Despite their lip-outs and near-misses, they are now 16-under and tied for ninth, two down from overnight seventh.

India are the second best Asian team after Japan, who at 19-under after a third round 64, are tied fourth with South Africa (62). The leaders continue to be Ireland with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. But their lead was now down to just one shot. The Irish pair shot 32 on either side of the Olazabal course for a 64 to go to 26-under, but snapping close on their heels are the defending champions, Sweden and Italy.

The Indian pair came here without a practice round together as they had a visa scare with Randhawa getting delayed in getting his papers. He arrived in the nick of time Wednesday to be able to tee off on Thursday. “From being almost not here to possibly finishing in top-10, seems good,” said the optimistic Randhawa, who had a share in India’s best-ever World Cup finish in ninth place in 2005 with Arjun Atwal. “This is my fourth World Cup, last year Jeev and I were 17th. I also played with Gaurav Ghei in 2007.”