The Digboi Golf Links Course in Digboi, Assam will soon be the focus of attention for the country’s golf fans as this venue prepares itself for the second event of the 2007-08 PGTI season, the IOC XtraPremium Masters 2007, scheduled to be held from November 15 to 18.
The IOC XtraPremium Masters has the potential of producing a great finish as there are a number of contenders for the title. Defending champion and 2006-07 PGTI Order of Merit winner Ashok Kumar will be looking to repeat his last performance at Digboi.
In the last edition of this event Ashok Kumar emerged victorious by a handsome margin of six strokes as his final score read fourteen-under par 274. The joint runners-up Vikrant Chopra and Shamim Khan finished with scores of eight-under 280.
“The win at Digboi was a significant one for me. The tournament was just my second on the PGTI and the victory helped me grow in confidence. It laid the foundation for my next four titles in the season,” said Ashok looking back at his previous IOC XtraPremium Masters triumph in February this year.
The defending champion appears to be one of the firm favourites once again as he has not only tasted success at the Digboi Golf Links in the recent past but has also had a reasonably good start to the new season with a tied seventh finish at the BILT Open 2007.
“I believe putting could be the decisive factor at Digboi because the greens on that course are very challenging,” added Ashok. The Delhi golfer will be keen to perform well in Digboi in order to leapfrog from his current seventh position on the 2007-08 PGTI Order of Merit.
The venue for the Rs. 20 lakh event, the picturesque Digboi Golf Links is a golfer’s delight. It is very different from the other popular golf courses in the country in terms of ambience as it is situated among the lush tea estates and thick forest of eastern Assam.
The course is a one of its kind, bordered by the Deihing forest reserve on three sides and the magnificent mountains of Arunachal Pradesh on the fourth. This 72 par course with a yardage of 6329 could also be termed as the best in the north-eastern part of the country due to its magnificent layout.
Vikrant Chopra, the joint runner-up during the last IOC XtraPremium Masters is excited about participating in the upcoming event. “I had a great outing at Digboi in February this year but somehow could not replicate that performance in the tournaments that followed. I’m eager to do well at the IOC Masters once again. It’s a small course but not a very easy one. One needs to use his head and club selection could hold the key,” said Chopra to The Indian Golf Blog.
One golfer giving everyone a run for their money would be Digvijay Singh. He’s currently placed second behind Lam Chih Bing on the PGTI Order of Merit and seems to be gaining momentum with every passing tournament.
Digvijay could present one of the toughest challenges to defending champion Ashok Kumar since he seems to have found form with a runners-up finish at the BILT Open 2007 and a tied 14th place finish on the Asian Tour’s Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational.
Another professional breathing down the defending champion’s neck would be the other runner-up at the last edition of the tournament, Shamim Khan.
Shamim has fond memories of his last performance but believes it’s going to be tough out there, “The greens in Digboi are quite tricky and whoever putts well stands a good chance”. Shamim has not won a title on the PGTI so far despite having come close on quite a few occasions including the BILT Open 2007 where he finished tied third. Now he has an opportunity to set the record straight.
The other strong contenders in Digboi include Gaganjeet Bhullar and Harmeet Kahlon. Gaganjeet Bhullar ended the BILT Open 2007 in tied 13th place and then came agonizingly close to winning his maiden Asian Tour title at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational.
The Kapurthala lad missed out on the title as a result of Filipino Juvic Pagunsan’s incredible eagle on the 72nd hole. Bhullar would definitely be the one to look out for at Digboi.
Harmeet Kahlon also came up with a memorable performance in Indonesia, finishing tied fifth. He would like to make the most of his good form and register his second win on the PGTI. His solitary win on the tour so far came in December 2006 at the Emaar MGF PGTI Championship at Bangalore.
The surprise package of the tournament could be Himmat Singh Rai who secured an impressive tied third finish at the BILT Open 2007. Rai believes the weather conditions in Digboi would be totally different and players would need to adapt to it very quickly. “Colder weather means spending more time on the range in order to get warmed up and get into your groove,” said Rai.
Now even though the PGTI’s next stop is in colder locales it provides the country’s top professional golfers an ideal opportunity to warm up for the long and exciting season that lies ahead.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Defending Champ Yang disqualified in Shanghai
South Korean Yang Yong-Eun's campaign to defend his HSBC Champions crown came to a sudden end on Sunday when he was disqualified from the tournament for signing his third-round card incorrectly.
"I'm shocked. It's unbelievable," said Yang, who had been in a pack of players tied for fifth at seven-under going into the final round after shooting a two-under 70 on Saturday.
"At the end of the day though, it's my fault for not checking the scores... I am very disappointed as this is my last tournament for this year."
Yang, 35, was disqualified for recording a bogey four at the 12th hole on Saturday when he actually shot a double bogey, tournament organisers said in a statement.
Officials were only made aware of the problem when a fan who had followed Yang around the course checked the scores on the Internet when he went home.
The fan rang the tournament organisers and when officials checked with Yang on Sunday morning before he teed off for the final round, he said he had indeed scored a five.
Yang in fact made two mistakes on his score card Saturday, signing for a par three on the 17th hole when he actually scored a birdie.
While the two mistakes cancelled each other out, organisers were forced to automatically disqualify him for recording the error on the 12th hole.
Yang last year emerged from golfing obscurity when he beat world number one Tiger Woods by two strokes to win the five-million-dollar HSBC Champions, Asia's richest golf event.
Tournament organisers on Sunday emphasised that Yang's mistakes should not be seen as deliberate.
"Yang was a wonderful champion. His win last year was magnificent for Asian golf... we wish him well for the future," said HSBC's head of sponsorship, Giles Morgan to The Indian Golf Blog.
Mickelson wins HSBC Champions Tourney
Phil Mickelson beat England's Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher in a three-way play-off to win the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
Mickelson clinched victory with a four-foot birdie putt at the second extra hole, the par-five 18th, hours after it seemed he had thrown victory away. He held a three-shot lead after 11 holes but dropped four shots at the 12th, 13th and 15th, allowing Fisher to open a two-shot lead off his own.
Mickelson clinched victory with a four-foot birdie putt at the second extra hole, the par-five 18th, hours after it seemed he had thrown victory away. He held a three-shot lead after 11 holes but dropped four shots at the 12th, 13th and 15th, allowing Fisher to open a two-shot lead off his own.
Meanwhile, Westwood fought his way into contention with six birdies in the final nine holes but Mickelson picked up a birdie at the 16th and Fisher had a double bogey at the final hole to leave the top three players level on ten-under-par.
At the first play-off hole, Fisher missed an eight-foot birdie putt that would have won the tournament and then Fisher and Westwood both struggled at the second hole, allowing Mickelson to win.
Meanwhile, India's Gaurav Ghei returned a rollercoaster one-over 73 to finish tied 55th, while Jyoti Randhawa carded his week's worst of seven-over 79 to slump further and sign off a disappointing tied 58th.
While Ghei accumulated a total of 11-over 299, Randhawa was a couple of shots adrift of his compatriot in Asia's richest event
It turned out to be another disappointing day for the two Indians as they once again found the going tough at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Ghei started with a bogey on the first before dropping another shot on the sixth. The seasoned pro recovered to strike a birdie on the seventh but stumbled to a ninth-hole bogey to make the turn two-over.
The Delhi-golfer seemed on way to a recovery in his back nine -- with birdies on the 13th and 16th -- but a dropped shot on the final hole spoilt his chances of a better finish.
Randhawa, on the other hand, made an even worse start, by dropping a double bogey on the first. He then added to his woes with bogeys on the second and fourth hole.
However, the 32-year-old arrested the slide by gaining strokes on the fifth, sixth and eighth hole before undoing the good work in a disastrous back nine.
The Indian first stumbled to a double bogey on the 10th and then dropped three shots in the space of four holes from 15th to 18th to round off a pathetic day.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Faldo's Indian Designs
Six-time Major champion, Nick Faldo is eyeing the booming Indian golf market, where he is expected to start a signature golf course project next year.
'We are very close to selecting a property in India. The course will be in Delhi, which is the hub of golfing in India, and we are hopeful that construction work will start by early next year,' Nick Edmund, managing director of Faldo Design, told The Indian Golf Blog.
Faldo Design is a leading international golf course design company that was founded by Faldo more than two decades back.
Edmund said Faldo was yet to see any property in India but would obviously come down to inaugurate the project once the deal was finalised.
Edmund, who was on a two-day tour to India, visited some of the properties in and around Delhi and has also had talks with some leading developers. The project, expected to start early in 2008, will be inaugurated by Faldo himself.
'I haven't seen many golf courses in India. But I did see a few to have a feel of the business in India. It is very important to have a feel of the business before taking the final plunge,' said Edmund.
The company has designed 21 courses in Asia, including in China, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea and Thailand. Besides Asia, Faldo Design has also completed projects in 20 different countries in Europe and the US.
When asked why it took long for Faldo Design to venture into the Indian market, Edmund said: 'There wasn't a market in India 10-15 years ago. If we had started a project then it would have suffered a fate similar to what happened to our project in Russia. We are building a world class golf course in Russia but it has already taken five years and is still not complete.
Edmund also said that the course would be very typical to Faldo's own style of play, which always lays emphasis on strategy.
Faldo, who won the British Open and Augusta Masters three times each, is the most successful British golfer. Now 50, he divides his time between commentating, golf course designing and promoting the Faldo Series of golf events for juniors - one of which is held in India - and also plays on Seniors Tour.
'We are very close to selecting a property in India. The course will be in Delhi, which is the hub of golfing in India, and we are hopeful that construction work will start by early next year,' Nick Edmund, managing director of Faldo Design, told The Indian Golf Blog.
Faldo Design is a leading international golf course design company that was founded by Faldo more than two decades back.
Edmund said Faldo was yet to see any property in India but would obviously come down to inaugurate the project once the deal was finalised.
Edmund, who was on a two-day tour to India, visited some of the properties in and around Delhi and has also had talks with some leading developers. The project, expected to start early in 2008, will be inaugurated by Faldo himself.
'I haven't seen many golf courses in India. But I did see a few to have a feel of the business in India. It is very important to have a feel of the business before taking the final plunge,' said Edmund.
The company has designed 21 courses in Asia, including in China, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea and Thailand. Besides Asia, Faldo Design has also completed projects in 20 different countries in Europe and the US.
When asked why it took long for Faldo Design to venture into the Indian market, Edmund said: 'There wasn't a market in India 10-15 years ago. If we had started a project then it would have suffered a fate similar to what happened to our project in Russia. We are building a world class golf course in Russia but it has already taken five years and is still not complete.
Edmund also said that the course would be very typical to Faldo's own style of play, which always lays emphasis on strategy.
Faldo, who won the British Open and Augusta Masters three times each, is the most successful British golfer. Now 50, he divides his time between commentating, golf course designing and promoting the Faldo Series of golf events for juniors - one of which is held in India - and also plays on Seniors Tour.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Asian Tour is the new moolah zone
The Asian Golf Tour will have at least 11 events with more than $one million as prize money, according to the new calendar. The Tour will travel to 16 countries and territories and will see at least six events raise their prize money significantly.
India figures twice in the calendar. First, the Johnnie Walker Classic, a $2.5 million event, will be coming to India for the first time. The event will be held from Feb 28 to March 2 at the DLF Golf and Country Club.
The other event on the schedule is the Hero Honda Indian Open, which is currently offering $500,000, but is likely to raise that amount significantly, considering it has upped the purse by $100,000 each of the last two times.
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said the core of the provisional 2008 Schedule is based upon the successful staging of a collection of established and long-running tournaments across the region.
Six events have raised their prize money significantly for 2008, with the Pine Valley Beijing Open and Iskandar Johor Open, both were inaugurated this year, at $500,000 and $300,000 respectively, offering $1 million each and the Maybank Malaysian Open offering a record $2 million.
The Barclays Singapore Open, Asia's richest national championship, will also raise its prize fund from $4 million to $5 million. The Midea China Classic and Macau Open will also increases to $500,000 next year, from US$400,000 and $300,000 respectively.
Between these six events, the Asian Tour stars will shoot for over $3 million more than what was offered in 2007.
The new season will kick off Jan 24-27, with the staging of the inaugural $300,000 Asian Tour International at a venue yet to be confirmed.
In the opening months the 2008 season, several events have swapped dates. The Singapore Masters, traditionally played in March, will now move a month early to Feb 14-17 for its eighth edition while the Maybank Malaysian Open, an event inaugurated in 1962, will be held from March 6-9 with a record prize fund.
The prestigious Johnnie Walker Classic will visit India for the first time from Feb 28-March 2, while Asia's oldest national Championship, the Philippine Open, will also be held in March at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
India figures twice in the calendar. First, the Johnnie Walker Classic, a $2.5 million event, will be coming to India for the first time. The event will be held from Feb 28 to March 2 at the DLF Golf and Country Club.
The other event on the schedule is the Hero Honda Indian Open, which is currently offering $500,000, but is likely to raise that amount significantly, considering it has upped the purse by $100,000 each of the last two times.
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said the core of the provisional 2008 Schedule is based upon the successful staging of a collection of established and long-running tournaments across the region.
Six events have raised their prize money significantly for 2008, with the Pine Valley Beijing Open and Iskandar Johor Open, both were inaugurated this year, at $500,000 and $300,000 respectively, offering $1 million each and the Maybank Malaysian Open offering a record $2 million.
The Barclays Singapore Open, Asia's richest national championship, will also raise its prize fund from $4 million to $5 million. The Midea China Classic and Macau Open will also increases to $500,000 next year, from US$400,000 and $300,000 respectively.
Between these six events, the Asian Tour stars will shoot for over $3 million more than what was offered in 2007.
The new season will kick off Jan 24-27, with the staging of the inaugural $300,000 Asian Tour International at a venue yet to be confirmed.
In the opening months the 2008 season, several events have swapped dates. The Singapore Masters, traditionally played in March, will now move a month early to Feb 14-17 for its eighth edition while the Maybank Malaysian Open, an event inaugurated in 1962, will be held from March 6-9 with a record prize fund.
The prestigious Johnnie Walker Classic will visit India for the first time from Feb 28-March 2, while Asia's oldest national Championship, the Philippine Open, will also be held in March at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Chopra ends PGA season with 53rd place
Lake Buena Vista (Florida) - Daniel Chopra carded an even par 72 with three birdies and bogeys each for a five-under 382 total and a share of the 53rd place at the Children's Miracle Network Classic presented by Wal-Mart.
The Swede who cut his teeth at the Delhi Golf Club ended the season Sunday a happy man as he scored his first career win on the PGA Tour a week earlier and is now sure of a place in many big events on the 2008 tour.
Canadian Stephen Ames, who came to play the season-ending event only to escape the harsh winter back home, claimed the title with a four-under 68 final round for a one-shot victory.
The Swede who cut his teeth at the Delhi Golf Club ended the season Sunday a happy man as he scored his first career win on the PGA Tour a week earlier and is now sure of a place in many big events on the 2008 tour.
Canadian Stephen Ames, who came to play the season-ending event only to escape the harsh winter back home, claimed the title with a four-under 68 final round for a one-shot victory.
Atwal retains Nationwide Tour card
Arjun Atwal barely managed to retain his Nationwide Tour card with a tied 44th finish in the Nationwide Tour Championship at Barona Creek but going through the qualifying school remains his lone option to secure his 2008 PGA Tour card.
Atwal signed off with a final round of three-under 68 to tally six-under 278 and his earning of USD 101,824 placed him 60th in the money list after the season finale.
Top 25 in the list would be awarded the PGA Tour card for the next year, while those in 26-60 bracket retain their Nationwide Tour Card.
Richard Johnson won the event with an impressive total of 20-under 264, one stroke ahead of Michael Letzig who carded 66 in the final round.
Atwal signed off with a final round of three-under 68 to tally six-under 278 and his earning of USD 101,824 placed him 60th in the money list after the season finale.
Top 25 in the list would be awarded the PGA Tour card for the next year, while those in 26-60 bracket retain their Nationwide Tour Card.
Richard Johnson won the event with an impressive total of 20-under 264, one stroke ahead of Michael Letzig who carded 66 in the final round.
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