All eyes will be on rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar, who leads the Indian challenge in the $1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open golf tournament.
All eyes will be on rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar, who leads the Indian challenge
in the $1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open golf tournament, teeing off at DLF Golf & Country Club here on Thursday.
The Punjab golfer, who has won six titles in the current season including one on the Asian Tour, also has some fond recent memories of the scenic DLF Golf & Country Club where he recently won the DLF Masters tournament by beating none other than Jyoti Randhawa, that too on latter’s home course.
But Bhullar will have to be at his best to repeat that kind of performance on a bigger stage, which includes twice winner Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, former champion Arjun Atwal, last year’s runner-up Darren Beck of Australia, Anthony Kang of the USA and Daniel Chopra of Sweden.
Bhullar was pretty confident of good showing at the premier event. “I don’t feel any kind of pressure while playing in India. It is a different situation but not difficult to handle. Since this course is one of my favourite venues there is an even lesser possibility of feeling any pressure. I am hitting well and am also in a very confident frame of mind. I feel very strong as far as the mental aspect is concerned.”
US-based Atwal, who won the title 10 years ago, is playing the tournament after a gap of four years but played down his chances stating, “I don't have any expectations. I haven't played well this year and so I'm not thinking much about winning or losing. Of course, I would be playing seriously but I think I would like to take it as it comes.”
Other Indians in fray are SSP Chowrasia, Gaurav Ghei, Digvijay Singh, Anirban Lahiri, Ali Sher and Vijay Kumar. A prime attraction is Michael Campbell, a 40-year-old from New Zealand, who won the US Open four years ago by holding off Tiger Woods, but may not be at his best here as he is recouping from a shoulder injury.
“I have always wanted to come to India and hope to do well here. I am at the end of another five year cycle of inconsistent form. I had a really good year in 1995, when I was second in the British Open, but then struggled until winning the Johnnie Walker Classic at the end of 1999.
“I won two times in Europe in 2000 but then only peaked again in 2005 when I won the US Open. As 2010 approaches I am hoping things will start to happen,” said Campbell, who was named the European Tour Golfer of 2005.
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