India Legends Championship: Swede Joakim Haeggman steals the show

Tournament host Jeev finishes T-3; Randhawa T-9
GREATER NOIDA: Jeev Milkha Singh looked resigned rather than frustrated. A two-shot swing on the par-5 15th had opened a window of opportunity. Coming on the 18th, he had to turn on the aggression for a chance to catch up with leader Joakim Haeggman. The tournament host decided to go for broke, and then, the door slammed shut.
Sometimes, a gamble works.Sunday, it didn't.
On another balmy afternoon, it unravelled with a liquid welcome off the tee. Then, his third shot found its way onto the adjacent 10th. Counting his strokes a chip back, then onto the greens, two putts for a triple bogey he understood it had been all or nothing.
Well, in golf, it meant a drop from tied-2nd to tied-3rd.
The third protagonist in the leadergroup of the inaugural $500,000 HSBC India Legends Championship, Jyoti Randhawa, was never in contention with a difficult round. A missed birdie putt on the final hole saw him finish with a 2-over for a 1-under total and a tied-9th position.
Englishman Andrew Marshall, a fan of Jeev's unorthodox swing, was in sole second place, jumping from tied-10th with a 7-under 65. "It was all thanks to my caddie Rakesh whom I trusted today, unlike the first two days," said the Q-School graduate.
Although the trophy eluded Jeev, who had to settle for a round of 4-over-76 for a total 4-under after starting a stroke behind the leader at 9-under, he got the prize and hugs for being the perfect host. "I would like to congratulate Joakim, whom I call Heggie. I have known him for years. Well done to him, he played beautifully today," the 52-year-old said.
The hopes of a home win had blinded us all it was Heggie's story all the way, with an even-par finish (9-under total) for a wire-to-wire victory. The man who likes to lie prone on the greens to study the line of his putts, read the course well, leaving nothing to chance on the unpredictable greens with his hitting.
Driving is his 'achilles heel', admitted the first Swede to make the Ryder Cup team, in 1993. But this week, it was on target. "A lot of fairways, hitting 8-or-7-irons to less than 3-4ft and being able to convert some simple birdies" have been the key to his success at the Greg Norman-designed Jaypee Greens. "Chipping is really difficult on the grass here so I managed to avoid that."
Early in the day, it seemed like a race for second place with Ha eggman building a five-stroke lead. But there was room for drama. A three-putt for a bogey on the par-3 14th, and then another stumble on the 15th where Jeev picked up a shot, meant a fight to the finish. "It's been a really long two-and-a-half days in the heat, it's difficult to focus and do the right thing all the time." he reflected. No worries, three pars on the final holes, and the j ob was done. A cheque for $74,250 in the pocket.
The 55-year-old celebrated his second Legends Tour victory with a call to his son. "He's 14-years old and he's been up every morning at 5am trying to see how I've played."