Indian star golfer Jeev Milkha Singh carded even-par 70 to finish at the tied 27th spot with the defending champion Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson in the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at the Firestone Country Club in Akron Ohio on Friday.

The highest ranked Asian golfer, Jeev was out of the action from last three weeks due to a rib injury. Jeev scored three birdies and three bogeys in the opening round. Jeev got to a perfect start as he sank birdie on the second hole but he scored a bogey on the next hole.

Jeev failed to break the par in the first round even after scoring birdie on the 10th hole as he sank bogeys on the 11th and 18th holes.

Irishman Padraig Harrington was at the top position with carding six-under 64 while Thai Prayad Marksaeng, South African Tim Clark and American Scott Verplank stood at the shared second spot. The world no. 1, Tiger Woods and Spaniard Sergio Garcia shared the eighth spot with carding 68.