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In its fourth year, the $300,000 SAIL Open golf championship is still looking for its first Indian winner.
Being the country's lowest dollar-event in golf, the lukewarm response from the regulars of the Asian Tour is understandable. When the event opens on Tuesday, the only point of interest is whether the likes of Jyoti Randhawa, Gaganjeet Bhullar, in-form Sujjan Singh, Anirban Lahiri, Ashok Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, among others, can end the foreign monopoly of the title on Friday.
The regulars from the domestic PGTI circuit enjoy 52 spots in the field of 150. However, the possibility of a champion from Thailand cannot be ruled out, if one considers the presence of some of its proven talents.
Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, winner of the 2009 edition with a record score of 32-under par, is back. Also in the fray are Chawalit Plaphol, Prom Meesawat and the seasoned Srirot Thammanoon.
Japan's Daisuke Maruyama, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, makes his debut here. In contrast, Australia's Marcus Both and Singapore's Mardan Mamat, will be expected to make use of their vast experience of playing in these conditions.
Regulars hold the edge
Given the field's depth, rather the lack of it, the regulars of the tree-lined Delhi Golf Club course hold the edge. Though the greens are not as fast as they were during the Indian Open last December, they are expected to play true.
More than Randhawa, the well-built Bhullar is likely to be among the front-runners. Though this tight course does not encourage long hitters, Bhullar, who turns 23 next month, has the game and more importantly, the confidence, to add a fifth title — fourth in India — this year.
This is the third premier golf event in the country this year and the previous two produced Indian winners. Bhullar won the inaugural Gujarat Kensville Challenge at Ahmedabad before S.S.P. Chowarsia claimed the Avantha Masters at Gurgaon. Chowrasia has chosen to stay away from this event.
Lahiri, still looking for his breakthrough title on the Tour, is back after a three-week off from competitions. “I am pretty confident since I've played a lot here (on this course). The course does not hold any surprises for the regulars here,” said Lahiri but chose not to guess the winning score this week.
Add to the gains
Sajjan, the man who arrived on the big stage with the tied-fifth finish at the €1.8 million Avantha Masters last month at Gurgaon, was looking to add to the gains.
The Chandigarh-based golfer, who represented his State in football and held the State squash title, said, “My goal is to keep my ranking, hopefully move up in it and win on the Asian Tour. I've won on the Indian Tour so winning on the Asian Tour is my next goal.”
On the eve of the event, it seems like a tussle between the Indian and Thai golfers. But a surprise winner can never be ruled out on this deceptively easy looking course.
Being the country's lowest dollar-event in golf, the lukewarm response from the regulars of the Asian Tour is understandable. When the event opens on Tuesday, the only point of interest is whether the likes of Jyoti Randhawa, Gaganjeet Bhullar, in-form Sujjan Singh, Anirban Lahiri, Ashok Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, among others, can end the foreign monopoly of the title on Friday.
The regulars from the domestic PGTI circuit enjoy 52 spots in the field of 150. However, the possibility of a champion from Thailand cannot be ruled out, if one considers the presence of some of its proven talents.
Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, winner of the 2009 edition with a record score of 32-under par, is back. Also in the fray are Chawalit Plaphol, Prom Meesawat and the seasoned Srirot Thammanoon.
Japan's Daisuke Maruyama, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, makes his debut here. In contrast, Australia's Marcus Both and Singapore's Mardan Mamat, will be expected to make use of their vast experience of playing in these conditions.
Regulars hold the edge
Given the field's depth, rather the lack of it, the regulars of the tree-lined Delhi Golf Club course hold the edge. Though the greens are not as fast as they were during the Indian Open last December, they are expected to play true.
More than Randhawa, the well-built Bhullar is likely to be among the front-runners. Though this tight course does not encourage long hitters, Bhullar, who turns 23 next month, has the game and more importantly, the confidence, to add a fifth title — fourth in India — this year.
This is the third premier golf event in the country this year and the previous two produced Indian winners. Bhullar won the inaugural Gujarat Kensville Challenge at Ahmedabad before S.S.P. Chowarsia claimed the Avantha Masters at Gurgaon. Chowrasia has chosen to stay away from this event.
Lahiri, still looking for his breakthrough title on the Tour, is back after a three-week off from competitions. “I am pretty confident since I've played a lot here (on this course). The course does not hold any surprises for the regulars here,” said Lahiri but chose not to guess the winning score this week.
Add to the gains
Sajjan, the man who arrived on the big stage with the tied-fifth finish at the €1.8 million Avantha Masters last month at Gurgaon, was looking to add to the gains.
The Chandigarh-based golfer, who represented his State in football and held the State squash title, said, “My goal is to keep my ranking, hopefully move up in it and win on the Asian Tour. I've won on the Indian Tour so winning on the Asian Tour is my next goal.”
On the eve of the event, it seems like a tussle between the Indian and Thai golfers. But a surprise winner can never be ruled out on this deceptively easy looking course.