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Jeev makes strong opening

India's Jeev Milkha Singh began the Euro one-million Victor Chandler British Masters championship in stunning fashion, returning a four-under 68 card on the opening day at the 6,973-yard, par-72 Woburn Golf and Country Club at Woburn, England.

According to information, the Hero Honda-sponsored Jeev is tied for the seventh spot, just three shots behind leader Stephen Allen of Australia, who returned a card of seven-under 65.

The 27-year-old Chandigarh pro, who missed the cut by one stroke in last week's Canon European Masters in Crans Montana, began in inauspicious fashion by making a bogey on his very first hole.

Starting from the 10th, Jeev failed to exploit the 502-yard, par-5 hole, but that proved to be his only mistake of the day.

On a course with velvety fairways and perfect greens, the lone Indian on the European PGA Tour levelled his score on the par-14 12th, and another birdie on the par-5 18th saw him making the turn at one-under. Jeev was in exceptional form on his back nine as he made birdies on the par-4 1st and 3rd, before adding another on the 207-yard par-3 5th.

Jeev is placed 41st in the European PGA Tour's Volvo Order of Merit going into this week and a good finish here would go a long way in helping him fulfill the dream of making it to the top 20.

That would ensure him an automatic berth in all four majors next season.

Allen, a baby-faced 25-year-old Aussie, played one of the best rounds of his career, but looking back at the pack following him, he will have to do something spectacular to win his first title on the European PGA Tour.

In tied second place were five players, none more intimidating than Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, winner of five titles this year and the runaway leader of the Order of Merit.

Sharing the seventh place along with Jeev were such illustrious names as England's Lee Westwood, twice Masters champion Bernard Langer of Germany and Ian Woosnam of Wales.

Another Indian interest in the tournament, Sweden's Daniel Chopra had a terrible round and was placed joint 139th along with reigning British Open champion Paul Lawrie of Scotland at four-over 76.

UNI