Himmat Rai wants to be first Indian to win Macau Open

Macau: Spotlight will be on Gaganjeet Bhullar but a nonchalant Himmat Rai is gunning to become the first

Indian to win the Macau Open golf tournament when the USD 500,000 event tees off here on Thursday. "I`m feeling very good about my form at the moment. I played well last week back in a local event in India, had a good finish at Koh Samui (Queens Cup) and I am looking forward to this week," said Rai, whose best result this season was a tied 10th finish at the Singha Thailand Open in March. The Indian is also eager to redeem himself this year after suffering the heartbreak of missing the weekend cut by a single shot last year. "I played here last year but didn`t have a very good outing. Banking on the experience of playing on this golf course last year, you`ve to adopt a very conventional kind of style of playing. I just have to hit it straight and putt well," said Rai. Also in the field will be Bhullar whose game seems to have reached the next level after his breakthrough triumph in Indonesia. Other players who have confirmed their entry at the full field Asian Tour event include Thailand`s Thaworn Wiratchant who is hoping to extend his winning streak on the Asian Tour to 11 victories, and France`s Jean Van de Velde, a two-time winner in Europe. Bureau Report