Randhawa returns to favourite course, Bhullar eyes title

NEW DELHI - Indian golfers, always a major force on home turf, will be upbeat on the eve of the $300,000 Asian Tour event, SAIL Open, beginning Tuesday.

Jyoti Randhawa considers Delhi Golf Club as one of his favourite courses as he has won four Asian Tour titles at the venue.

India’s Shiv Kapur, rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar, defending champion Chapchai Nirat of Thailand, Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing and S.S.P. Chowrasia, and Australian Marcus Both are other stars in the fray.

Highlighting the depth of this week’s elite field is an interesting statistics that reveals Randhawa as one of the 29 Asian Tour winners featuring in the tournament.

“It is always special to play at home. Delhi Golf Club has been my favourite hunting ground and I’m really looking forward to this week,” said Randhawa.

“I try to play the best golf. A few of us have done well overseas and that inspired youngsters. They have been doing great and I feel that Gaganjeet (Bhullar) has a lot of potential. The young players are catching up.”

“My first victory in 1998 is the sweetest. When you win your first tournament, you get some perks and that eases your mind a bit to just go out and play. That changed my life. I never looked back,” added Randhawa.

Bhullar said, “I started off the season very well. The victory in Thailand was surprising because I was trailing by six shots. It was a bit disappointing in the Avantha Masters but that is past. With the international field that we have this week, I am sure we will have a great event.”

“After winning my first event (at the Indonesia President Invitational), expectations are high and if everything goes well, I’m going to play on the US PGA Tour qualifying,” he added.

“I remember as a junior I played four or five tournaments on this golf course, and I have a lot of good memories here. There are a lot of Indian golfers and many good talents from the Asian Tour so it will be a competitive week.”

“I remembered playing with Chapchai (Nirat) on the last day last year. He was unbelievable because he was hitting it long and down the middle of the fairway. He was just excellent,” said Bhullar.

Big-hitting Chapchai, who set a new world 72-hole scoring record of 32-under-par 256 en route to victory last year albeit on a different course, is upbeat of his defence.

“It will be down to irons and three woods this week. It will be very tough for golfers but I’m confident of my chances,” said Chapchai, a three-time Asian Tour winner.