India's best-ever ranking for Jyoti

DIVOTS

India's Jyoti Randhawa has risen to 133 on the world rankings, the highest ever for an Indian beating the previous best of 141 by Jeev Milkha Singh in 1999.

During the course of the year, Randhawa won the Suntory Open on Japanese PGA Tour, besides two other top 15 finishes. Randhawa is now the third highest Asian on world rankings, after Vijay Singh (No 2) and KJ Choi (No 21). India's best Arjun Atwal is at 229.

WOODS IN DUBAI

Tiger Woods, who missed out on the Desert Creek Classic in Dubai in 2003, will be back for the upcoming edition from March 4 to 7, 2004. Woods missed out on the previous edition because of security problems.

The event this year will carry a purse of $2 million. Woods played in Dubai in 2001 and lost to Thomas Bjorn.

DIFFERENT HAZARDS

The Hans Merensky Estate course in South Africa golfers has more than the usual hazards of flying balls and runaway carts besides bunkers and water holes.

In 1996, there was a case of a cheetah killing a pregnant impala on hole No 4. The course borders one of Africa's largest game reserves.

The 18-hole course features a unique mix of manicured greens and wild bush. Warthogs root around for food on the edge of the putting green and giraffes sip from the ponds.

The club is 225 miles from Johannesburg and was built in 1967 by the Phalaborwa Mining Company for employees of its copper operation. It was sold to its current owners two years ago.

The entrance moves past a group of frolicking Vervet monkeys, and the perimeter fence allows antelope and crocodiles and the more determinded elephants and buffaloes to make their way onto the course. Now, many people come over to play simply to take a look at the wild life.

GOLFER SUES PGA

American golfer Greg Kraft has filed a suit against the PGA of America for an alleged failure to safeguard the health of players, according to a Florida newspaper.

Kraft, 39, who who lost his tour card this year, claims he caught valley fever at the Tucson Open in February 2002.

Valley fever is caused by soil in areas of low rainfall - mainly the USA and Mexico "" and affects the lungs.