— Photo: AP

CYNOSURE OF ALL EYES: Arjun Atwal is expected to lead the Indian contingent when the Indian Open kicks off on Thursday. — Photo: AP

NEW DELHI: In November 2003, the last time Arjun Atwal played at the Delhi Golf Club, he walked away with a cheque of $48,250 and the crystal vase that came with the prestigious Masters title. After two eventful seasons on the European and the USPGA Tours, Arjun has returned to the same course to win back the $300,000 Hero Honda Indian Open golf tournament that begins here on Thursday.

Since that exciting Sunday afternoon when Atwal carded a one-under 71 for a winning tally of 7-under 281, one better than Jyoti Randhawa, Pablo Del Olmo and Gary Rusnak, the Florida-based pro has come a long way. With $963,768 from 17 appearances, including four top-10 finishes on the USPGA Tour this year, Atwal has retained his card for the next season.

"This has been a very consistent year for me," said Atwal on Wednesday about the season in which he made 16 cuts from 17 starts in the U.S. and added, "This season, I planned it right and played smartly. Now I hope to carry on."

A well-rested Atwal, who last played in the Valero Texas Open in September, remarked that it does not require much change from the quick greens (as in the U.S.) to the slower ones here. "I've played here so many times, putting comes back to me. I feel no pressure and am looking forward to playing here."

Atwal, whose last pay-cheque here made him the first golfer to cross the million-dollar mark from the Asian Tour in 2003, will surely be the most followed contender once he tees off along with defending champion Singapore's Mardan Mamat and South African James Kingston from the first tee on Thursday forenoon.

Huge day for Mamat

When Mamat sank a 25-foot birdie to win the title in March last year, he was not the favourite. But he put together four sub-par rounds to tally 18-under 270 to win by a five-stroke margin over Mexico's Pablo Del Olmo. This year, too, Mamat's form looks unconvincing as he finds himself in the 28th spot on the Order of Merit with earnings of $87,886. Should Mamat regain his touch over the next four days, a good finish for him cannot be ruled out.

Randhawa, the country's top-ranked golfer and third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, is among the home favourites. "The key on this course is to hit straight and keep the ball on the fairway," said Randhawa on how he plans to tackle the tree-lined course. "The greens are great and I guess, this is the first time they are playing so fast," said the 33-year-old who wants to play full time on the European Tour next year.

Though Jeev Milkha Singh is missing, preferring to play in a $3 million event in Japan this week to try and keep card for the next season, the presence of rookie pro Shiv Kapur and domestic tour heroes Mukesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar, among others, raises hopes that Indians have a great opportunity to display the growing golfing depth in the country.

Of the lot, Kapur, the 2002 Asian Games champion, is in blistering form. With three top-10 finishes from the last four starts, Kapur can be expected to be among the front-runners.

Under pressure

From the field of 136 professionals, and eight amateurs, Tour leader Thaworn Wiratchant will be under pressure to get his swing right on a course that punishes wayward drivers like few other in the country. Known to have a suspect swing but equally good putting skills, Wiratchant will be looking for his third title on the Tour this season.

With 12 from the top-30 of the Asian Tour's money list in action, it is difficult to name a clear favourite. But then, unlike any other sporting discipline, golf thrives in throwing up surprise winners all around the globe.

Come Sunday, the especially erected `Grandstand' opposite the 18th hole, in addition to the gallery of a few thousand die-hard golf fans, might well witness an Indian holding the winner's trophy. After all, in the last seven years, four Indians have beaten the field in the Open. But the fans here do not seem to have enough of it.

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