THE BLOGJeev Singh takes the win
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh closed with a 2-under 69 Sunday to win the $5 million Barclays Singapore Open by one stroke ahead Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington.
Singh, who was five shots off the pace after the third round was completed earlier Sunday, finished at 7-under 277. Els shot 71 and Harrington closed with a 70. Harrington pushed his five-foot birdie attempt wide before Els saw his 15-footer stop on the edge of the cup, giving Singh the title.
“The way I’m going to record it is that I played very good, but I think I was very fortunate the golfing gods were on my side,” said Singh, who is no relation to FedExCup champion Vijay Singh of Fiji. “I think those two guys (Harrington and Els) hit some good putts on the last hole and I was fortunate enough to win and I’ll take it. “I’m excited about it,” he added. “I’m happy I could win against the top players of the world and this will give me a lot of confidence and hopefully go on to bigger things in life.”
Singh and Harrington began the final round in a tie for seventh on 5 under, but both managed three birdies on the front nine to surge to the top of the leaderboard. With third-round leader Nirat struggling, the tournament developed into a duel between Els and Harrington with Singh edging ahead on the 16th after a moment of bad fortune for the Irishman.
