NEW DELHI: The golfers were quick with their quips. "Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm," said Panasonic Open India defending champion Digvijay Singh, when asked about what went right for him at Delhi Golf Club last year.
"Your driver is your ATM card and the putter your password," stated Gaganjeet Bhullar, who finished second at the Avantha Masters last month. Currently, India's highest-ranked golfer, the world No. 89 has been consistent at the foliage-heavy course but not quite managed the breakthrough as a pro but hopes to change his fortunes this week at the $300,000 Asian Tour event.
"The driver retires till I retire whenever I'm here," Anirban Lahiri, the winner of the inaugural event, shared before wrapping up his third Asian Tour win on the course last month. Why change a winning formula, then? "Physically and mentally I'm ready again," he said.
It's all about accuracy rather than distance here. At the course, flanked by centuries-old tombs, there are bogeymen in the bushes.
Former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson experienced the hazards when he played here in the 2008 Indian Masters. The Englishman ,who has finished second nine times on the European Tour, has only one thing on his mind.
"I've struggling with my swing and that has gnawed at my confidence so I'm hoping the course will force me to hit it better and I don't have to worry about my driver here," said the sponsor's invite, who was making a comeback after breaking his wrist at home in January.
The tournament's key attraction, Jeev Milkha Singh, will be playing at DGC after a gap of five years. "I finished fourth the last time I played in the Indian open here so it wasn't too bad. You can say I'm hoping to get the monkey off my back ."
With the overnight rains, the course was playing soft and Jeev was expecting low scores. "It is playing longer than usual because the ball is not rolling. But since the greens are soft, golfers can aim for the flag." Bhullar begged to differ. "I think it's unpredictable. It can be low or high depending on the wind.
The wind was really blowing today and it will be difficult if conditions are similar rest of the days."
Home incentive: They call it the 'Home in One'. The first golfer who sinks a hole-in-one at the par-3 17th on Sunday will be gifted a high-end flat by Homestead. |
