By IANS
New Delhi : The 44-year-old South African Hendrik Buhrmann, who moved into second place with a fine three-under 69 in the second round of the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters, is no stranger to India and to the Delhi Golf Club (DGC). He has been coming to India since 1995, and it was here in India – though not at the Delhi Golf Club – that he won his first, and thus far only, Asian Tour title in 2006 at the Amby Valley Asian Masters.
That was the title, which prompted him to reveal one of the most widely reported quotes, “I want to win one in Asia before I die”. Well now that he has won once, he wants to do it again.
On Friday, with a three-under 69, he rose to six-under 138 for two days and into the second place at the midway stage of the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters.
He also credited his impressive performance to his caddie Inderpal, who has always been on the bag for him since 2005, when he was third at the Indian Open. “I finished third here at the Indian Open (2005) and then he went over there (Amby Valley) and caddied for me the next year and I won. He reads the greens good. We both understand the game a little bit which is nice.”
In 2005 Buhrmann was among the contenders before Thaworn Wiratchant grabbed the title and the South African finished third.
Speaking of his second round, he said, “I knew what I needed to play, not taking chances and stuffs like that…For the last 13 years I have been playing here and I know that here you have to keep the ball in play,” said Buhrmann.
Buhrmann, who was tied seventh after the first round, started it off well in the second as on the front nine he parred the first two holes and then birdied the third, fifth and the sixth but he faltered on the ninth with a bogey. His second bogey in the day came in the 12 th but found a couple of birdies on the 15th and the 17th hole.
Asked, how he feels about the much talked about course, Buhrmann said: “When I saw this venue was going to be on the European Tour. I thought it was the best thing for lot of reasons. I think on this course you have to play totally different style of golf, which most of the European or modern golfers haven’t played yet. This is a classic, old style golf course and you have to hit it straight here. It is a well disciplined golf course and I think it is unique.”
On his strategy for the next two days, he said: “I think all throughout the years, I would say aggressive-conservative has been my strategy and that’s what I have been trying to do. If I can actually do that for the next 36 holes I think I will have a good chance”