The Hindu : Sport / Golf : SRF matchplay event gets underway

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Monday, Apr 25, 2005

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Sport - Golf

SRF matchplay event gets underway

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: It will be a different ball game on the Amby Valley Indian PGAI Tour when the all India SRF matchplay golf championship tees-off at the Delhi Golf Club course here on Monday.

Sixtyfour professionals will vie for a prize-fund of Rs. 10 lakh in this event, with the winner getting Rs. 2.20 lakh and the runner-up, Rs. 1.10 lakh. The final, on May 1, will be a best of 36-hole affair.

In a format of this nature, it is difficult to predict a favourite. Going by form, Tour leader Mukesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, defending champion Digvijay Singh, in-form `rookie' Shiv Kapur, S.S.P. Chaurasia and Rafick Ali form the likely pack of front-runners.

Mukesh, winner of Rs. 24,38,350 and six titles in the season so far, is keen to set right his record in the matchplay event. "This time, I am confident of doing better," said Mukesh, who won his first title at the DGC in the PSPB Open earlier this month.

Ashok Kumar, second to Mukesh on the money list after winning five titles this season, warmed up for the week ahead by winning the `shootout' involving 10 professionals on Sunday.

Ashok birdied from over 10 feet to beat Gurbaaz Mann in the nine-hole contest. The day's effort was worth Rs. 50,000 for Ashok but he looked ahead to finding the winning putt next Sunday.

"I have been struggling with my putting in recent weeks but today it worked well. I hope it continues through the next week," said Ashok.

Digvijay, whose record at the DGC is pretty good, will be watched with added interest. He was joint runner-up at the PSPB Open and that performance should boost his confidence for the title-defence.

Chaurasia and Rafick Ali, too, have played consistently well in recent times and their chances cannot be discounted.

But weather is going to be a big factor this week. Rising mercury in the Capital is surely going to test the players' stamina.

The competition, culminating in a 36-hole final, is certain to leave the finalists exhausted in temperatures of 40 degrees and more. In these conditions, the most focussed and the fittest will be last man standing on Sunday next.

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