India's Jeev Milkha Singh overcame his emotional upheaval to win the Nippon Series Cup golf tournament late by two strokes, closing with a four-under par 66 at the Tokyo Yomiuri Country Club to finish on a 12-under total 268. Singh, who won the 2006 Nippon Series, made a last-minute decision to enter the tournament after being urged by his wife, who delivered the couple's first child stillborn earlier last week.
"I will dedicate this win to my wife for being strong enough to tell me to go and play on the Thursday morning," Singh said. "It was God's will and I am sure there is something better for us. Already God has been very kind to us with this win." He started the final round one stroke behind Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng, and had five birdies against a lone bogey to add to wins at the Singapore Open, the Bank Austria Open and the Sega Sammy Cup in Japan this year.
The defending champion Brendan Jones of Australia (64), New Zealand's David Smail (66) and Japan's Taichi Teshima (68) tied for second at 10 under. The Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa, who last weekend became the youngest golfer on the Japanese tour to reach $1million (Dh3.7m) in single-year winnings, shot an even-par 70 to finish four strokes off the pace in a tie for fifth place with Toshinori Muto.
The overnight leader Marksaeng struggled with his game on Saturday and finished seven strokes back after a 74. * AP
