Bhullar, Randhawa to tee up in DLF Masters

Gurgaon: Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar and two-time winner Jyoti Randhawa will spearhead a strong Indian challenge in the PGTI’s DLF Masters golf tournament which tees off here on Thursday.

The Rs 95 lakh event will also feature Anirban Lahiri, SSP Chowrasia, Mukesh Kumar, Shamim Khan, Gaurav Ghei, C Muniyappa, Rahil Gangjee and Himmat Singh Rai among others. Bhullar, who recorded a five-stroke victory last year, said it would be a tough tournament this week but hoped to put up a good performance. “It would be a challenging course and I know it would be tough. Thanks to the guys, the course is in good shape and the rough is up.” “I have no idea what would be a good score, definitely a double figure but playing against such a strong field is not going to be easy,” he said.Randhawa, who won the 2007 and 2008 edition of the event, hoped that the tournament would turn out to be memorable, which will boost his confidence and help him do better in the season ahead. “It has been a mixed year for me where I made some good as well as bad finishes because I’m going for some swing changes. But I am getting comfortable with my swing now. This week, I will try something different and hopefully do well,” he said. “This is one of my favourite tournaments, there is no better place than being at home and playing golf. It has always proved to be a confidence builder in the past and I want to do well this week too.” “The course is in good shape despite so much rain and I hope the best man wins as there would be a strong fight,” he added.Last year’s runner-up Anirban Lahiri said he would look to catch up with Mukesh Kumar in the PGTI Order of Merit. “I love playing here. Mukesh has been playing well and I hope I can catch up a few lakhs with him. I have been getting good starts but faltered in the fourth day. I don’t want to over analyse myself and want to keep it simple,” he said. PGTI director Padamjit Sandhu said the stakes are higher this year as top four PGTI Order of Merit players would get to play in the Singapore Open. “This is a very important also because this time, the top four golfers in the order of merit as on October 15 will get automatic spots in the USD six million Barclays Singapore Open to be played in November,” he said. Meanwhile, Randhawa said he hoped to play more often in the PGTI events after November this year. “The schedule is very busy till mid November but there is a possibility that I would play in the PGTI tournaments after that, probably the Indian Open and the Built Open is on the cards,” he said. PTI