India's Jyoti Randhawa kept up with the leaders at the Barclays Singapore Open with a two-under at 69 at the Sentosa Golf Club on Thursday.

By Eugene YS Han from Sentosa

The 37-year-old started play in the morning session at the tenth tee and he was grouped with three-time major winner Ernie Els as well as Asian Tour star Prayad Marksaeng.

Jyoti, who won the Singapore Open in 2000, did not have a good start when he bogeyed the fourth and fifth holes. But as he got to grips with his game, Jyoti hit four birdies, including the last one on the 18^th hole. He is joined at two-under par with the likes of world number two Phil Mickelson. When asked how he came back from two-over, Jyoti revealed he simply stuck to his game plan.

"I mean you've got to be very patient here," he said. 

"You can have your bad breaks. The rough's thick and if you miss the fairway you can easily make a bogey. So I hope to stick to this game plan and wait for the opportunity and hopefully convert when I get it."

And convert he did. Other than the birdie on 18, Jyoti also birdied the second, fourth and fifth holes. Overall, he was satisfied with his performance at the Serapong Course.

"I have played well and I think I've hit the ball decently as compared to last week (at the Iskandar Johor Open)," said the New Delhi-born golfer.

"I think it was a pretty satisfying. I didn't have a good start, you know, I was two-over after five holes and then I got it back to two-under so I 'm really happy with a way it finished off and hopefully I can carry it forward to tomorrow."

Jyoti also said he enjoyed playing with Els who attracted a large gallery. 'The Big Easy' who finished joint-second last year, carded a four-under 67 and Jyoti believed that the South African's score could have been even lower.

"The way he played today, he was flawless you know, he could have made three more birdies today. If he can get his putting right I think he will be the man to beat." 

When asked about India's next rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jyoti agrees the 21-year-old can break into the world's top ten in the future.

"I think he is a great player. He's coming up well. From last year to this year, he has improved a lot. He is the next good player to come out from India."