Jyoti, Bhullar, Kapur lead Indian challenge

Jeju Islands (South Korea): Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar will lead the Indian challenge at the Ballantine’s Championships golf, an event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, beginning Thursday.

Three other compatriots - Hero Honda Indian Open winner C. Muniyappa and young turks Anirban Lahiri and Himmat Rai - make it a strong six-man Indian contingent here. Bhullar has already won on the Asian Tour, while Kapur was second at the South African Open on European Tour and Bhullar was second at SAIL Open. A rejuvenated Ernie Els fired an ominous warning to the rest of the field ahead of the tournament, claiming he is relaxed and refreshed following a short break after the Masters Tournament. The South African returns here, as one of the hottest players in the world right now, 12 months after he finished tied fourth at Pinx Golf Club. Els re-entered the winning circle last month when he won the WGC-CA Championship and then captured the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the US PGA Tour the following week. Els starts the Ballantines Championship as one of the in-form players, along with Volvo China Open winner and fellow Major Champion YE Yang and Anthony Kim of America, and he hopes a week off at his West Palm Beach home in Florida will mean he is refreshed after a wonderful start to the 2010 season. Els is currently third in The Race to Dubai but can make up ground on leader Ian Poulter of England and fellow South African Charl Schwartzel with a strong showing here. IANS