Jeev Milkha Singh's decision of not defending the Volvo China Open in favour of the USPGA Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island backfired as he failed to make the cut after aggregating three-over 145 at the end of Round Two.

Tied 35th after first round, Jeev could not have asked for a worse possible start, as he began by dropping a shot in the very first hole, spoilt it further by double-bogeying the second and followed it up with successive bogeys on the third and fourth.

Even five birdies could not save the day for him as he came up with four bogeys and two double bogeys returning an abysmal three-over 73 thus knocking himself out of the weekend action.

Jeev fell short by two strokes and missed the cut, which was applied at two-over 144.

After his tough Masters week, he would have very much wanted to be among the 71 players who qualified for the weekend although world number two Jim Furyk, and last year's US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman were also among the notable casualties.

Meanwhile, at the top South African Ernie Els and Jerry Kelly swapped their respective places.

Els continued his post-Masters rehabilitation by storming three shots clear of the field by carding a second successive six-under-par 65, pushing Kelly (70) down on the lone second position.