Jeev Milkha Singh opens with solid 67, placed 12th at British Masters

Woburn: Seasoned Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, who is making a late dash to secure his card on the European Tour, rode on a bunch of birdies to turn in four-under 67 in the first round and be tied 12th at the British Masters here.

Jeev, who has had a patchy season, started with three birdies in a row from 10th to 12th before bogeys on the 13th and 17th pushed him down to one-under at the turn.

On the second nine, he birdied the fourth, sixth, seventh and the closing ninth but with a bogey in between on eighth.

It was clear Jeev was trying to be aggressive to get into a good position at tied 12th early.

The other Indian, Shiv Kapur, also starting on 10th had just two birdies, one on 12th and another on closing ninth and one bogey on 14th. Kapur was tied 42nd.

Young Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick birdied the last two holes for a brilliant seven-under 64. With six birdies alongside an eagle on the seventh hole, against a solitary bogey on the second, the 21-year-old eased into the first round lead at Woburn Golf Club, one stroke clear of Dane Soren Kjeldsen, Swede Robert Karlsson, Englishman Lee Slattery and Marc Warren of Scotland.