The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Mukesh eyes third straight title

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Tuesday, Apr 12, 2005

Sport

Sport - Golf

Mukesh eyes third straight title

By Our Special Correspondent

GURGAON, APRIL 11. Mukesh Kumar will be looking for a third straight title, in as many weeks, when the Rs. 25-lakh Airtel Masters golf championship begins at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Classic Golf Resort here on Tuesday.

In an irrepressible form on way to the winner's cheque of Rs. 8.1 lakh in the PSPB Open and firing a never-before card of 30-under to win the DDA Open, the 38-year-old Mukesh looks the best bet here.

Longer course

Unlike the Delhi Golf Club course and the Qutab Club Course where Mukesh emerged champion with varying degrees of ease, the CGR is a longer course with faster greens. Mukesh has been hitting well during the past fortnight. Should his chipping and putting hold good this week, a seventh title of the season will be his for the asking.

"My form is good and I am very focussed at the moment. I really want to make the most this opportunity," said Mukesh on Saturday as he eyed the winner's share of Rs. 4.05 lakh.

For the record, Mukesh leads the season's earnings by collecting Rs, 24,00,100 — the highest ever on the Indian Tour — after playing 16 out of 18 events.

Among the other leading contenders are Jeev Milkha Singh, Ashok Kumar, Shiv Kapur, Rafick Ali, S. S. P. Chaurasia, Digvijay Singh and Gaurav Ghei.

Jeev, who failed to qualify for the British Open last week, should be prove more effective on this course than he did at the DGC 10 days back. "My game is in perfect shape and all I need is a win. Moreover, the CGR suits my style," says Jeev.

Ashok Kumar, who won five successive titles this season, is another serious contender. After falling short of the expectations in the past two weeks, Ashok is obviously keen close in on Mukesh in the race to top the season's Order of Merit.

Driver's delight

"I have been playing well but some bad putting had held me back. This course is a driver's delight and I can do better than I did in the last two tournaments," says Ashok.

The chances of Shiv Kapur, the 2002 Asian Games gold medallist-turned pro, cannot be ruled on his course. This `rookie' has won two titles this season, including the Surya Masters in Kathmandu, and has the game to add another big one here.

The winning score on this course is expected to be around 14 to 16 under-par. Given the big and fast greens here, putting will surely hold the key.

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