By IANS
Jakarta : The growing strength of Indian golf will once again be on full view when seven Indian golfers tee up for the $1.2 million Astro Indonesia Open at the Cengkareng Golf Club here Thursday.
This despite, India’s latest champion S.S.P. Chowrasia having taken a week off to recover from the euphoria of his landmark win in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters last week.
The Indian contingent comprises three former Asia No. 1s. There is Jyoti Randhawa (No. 1 in 2002), Arjun Atwal (No. 1 in 2003) and Jeev Millkha Singh (No. 1 in 2006). Besides them there are Shiv Kapur, the Asian Tour Rookie of the year in 2005, three-time Asian Tour winner Gaurav Ghei and former Volkswagen Masters China champion Rahil Gangjee. The seventh Indian is Amandeep Johl, who has come close many times, but is still waiting for his maiden title on Asian Tour.
Jeev will also be looking forward to make it two wins in a roll for India – Chowrasia won last week — when he tees up Thursday. “This course has been set up that way where you have to be putt well. Whoever putts well this week and drives the course well has got a very good chance to win,” said Jeev, winner of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2006.
“I can’t pin point anybody but there is a lot of depth on the Asian Tour now. There are a lot of good players and I think anybody can win now,” he added.
Kapur will be looking forward to joining the ranks of Indians, who have won on Asian Tour, as he finished tied second at this event last year, when Finn Mikko Illonen snatched a one-shot win over three players.
Apart from Kapur, the other two tied at second were Andrew Tampion of Australia and Frankie Minoza of Philippines.
“It has been quite sometime since my first win in 2005 and I am eager to add to that. Coming second last year brings back memories of this event and I want to do well again,” said Kapur, who like the rest of Indian contingent will be back home for SAIL Open and Johnnie Walker after this event.
The three top Indians, Randhawa, Jeev and Kapur go in successive flights. Randhawa has been paired with Darren Clarke and Simon Yates, while Jeev plays with Paul McGinley and Asia No. 1 in 2007, Liang Wen Chong. Atwal has been paired with Jean Van De Welde and Chapchai Nirat.
Meanwhile, former Asia No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand also returns to the Cengkareng Golf Club with the aim of repeating his glorious 2005 victory. He has fond memories of his emphatic triumph at the par-70 Cengkareng course following a superb 25-under-par 255 winning total.
Thaworn will be looking for a record 10th career victory in the $1.2 million co-sanctioned event between the Asian Tour and European Tour.
McGinley, Europe’s hero in the 2002 Ryder Cup, isn’t surprised to see the rise of Asian players in recent times. He said that the standard of play has improved significantly in the region.
“I don’t think that you can pinpoint one or two people anymore. You might have been able to do that five years ago but just look at the winner last week. It’s so hard to pick a winner now because the field is so close in terms of ability,” said McGinley.
“I have a huge amount of respect for the Asian players in particular. I see how well they play and the scores they are producing. I have a lot of respect for those players as well as the guys from Europe who are here this week.
The Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open is the second leg of the Asian Tour’s 2008 Schedule. There are currently 28 events offering $38 million in total prize money on the Asian Tour Schedule with several more tournaments to be announced in due course.