The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Ample hope for the Indians

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 19, 2006
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Golf

Ample hope for the Indians

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: "We all understand how important it is for any of us to win the title here because it will help promote the game in the country." The words from Jyoti Randhawa firmly underscore the significance of having a homegrown champion at the $400,000 Hero Honda Indian Open that begins at the Delhi Golf Club course here on Thursday.

Since Ali Sher won the coveted title here in 1991 and 1993, there has been a tremendous rise in the self-belief of the Indian golfers. With Firoz Ali (1998) and Arjun Atwal (1999) winning in Kolkata and Randhawa making it a hat-trick for local champions in 2000 at Gurgaon, the sequence of Indians finishing ahead of the overseas challengers continued.

However, in the past five editions, only Vijay Kumar (2002) managed to add to the list of Indian winners. Last year, Gaurav Ghei finished second.

This weekend, there is ample hope of another Indian triumphing again.

"If Jeev (Milkha Singh) and Arjun (Atwal) were part of the field, the chances of an Indian winning would have been higher," said Randhawa.

A very strong field

Shiv Kapur, who like Randhawa is due to play on the European Tour next season, will be playing only his second Indian Open but finds himself among the Indian favourites. Ghei has proved often that his chances can never be discounted at his home course.

The field includes European Tour winners Simon Dyson (England), Andrew Coltart (Scotland) and Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) besides 11 others from the top-20 list of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Dyson will be looking for his third title of the season when he tees off in the company of defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant and Randhawa. "I know them very well. We have all topped the Order of Merit. If you come out on top in that group you know you have played well," he said.

Meanwhile, in Wednesday's pro-am event, the team comprising USA's Clay Devers, Yamamomi, Monish Sannalka and Ducky won.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport