The Hindu : Sport / Golf : An exciting time ahead

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Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006
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Sport - Golf

An exciting time ahead

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Some of the leading Asian challengers in the $400,000 Hero Honda Indian Open golf championship, defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant, last year's runner-up Gaurav Ghei, former champion Jyoti Randhawa and rising star Shiv Kapur, are all looking forward to some exciting times this weekend at the Delhi Golf Club course here.

The richest ever Indian Open starts on Thursday with three European Tour winners Scotland's Andrew Coltart, England's Simon Dyson and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell promising to be among the front-runners.

Wiratchant, whose 16-under 272 proved good enough to keep him two strokes clear of Ghei last year, found the fairways too wet to his liking during the practice round on Tuesday.

"The ball did not roll well so I guess, one will have to use the long irons better this week," said the Thai, winner of the Order of Merit last year with earnings of $510,122 after a record-breaking four titles in one season.

"Last year, I played more in Asia. But this season, I have played in Asia and Europe. So I am feeling a bit tired now after having played in Japan last week," said Wiratchant, who will be teeing off for the fifth straight week.

Ghei, fresh from winning the Mercuries Taiwan Open that ended his 11-year wait for a second title on the Asian Tour, said he was playing well and hoped to be in contention on the last nine holes on Sunday.

"Winning the Taiwan Open was very satisfying and it meant a lot," said Ghei who came back from a four-shot deficit to win.

"I have worked very hard on my game since the end of 2003 with American coach Claude Harmon, whose father Butch coached Tiger Woods till 2003. By the end of 2004 my swing started to feel more natural," revealed Ghei.

Ghei hopeful

About his lack of success on the Asian Tour since winning the 1995 Gadgil Western Masters with a memorable 35-yard `eagle' on the final hole, Ghei said, "I've had a few top-three and top-five finishes and I came close to winning a few times. Presently, I am hitting the ball well off the tee and hope to carry on my good form."

Randhawa and Shiv Kapur have gained their European Tour cards for the next season.

"The tougher competition in Europe makes it that much easier for us when we return to play in Asia," said Randhawa, who regretted his lack of consistency in the past year.

The players will get another look at the course during the pro-am round on Wednesday when English cricketers Andrew Strauss, Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood and James Anderson are due to tee-off.

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