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Atwal looks for better luck at Indian Masters golf
Arjun Atwal will be looking forward for a reversal of fortune as he tees off at the inaugural $2.5 million EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters starting on Wednesday.
New Delhi:
After a poor season on the US Tour, ace Indian golfer Arjun Atwal will be looking forward for a reversal of fortune as he tees off at the inaugural $2.5 million EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters starting on Wednesday.
"I had three months off, so I practiced really hard and worked on my game and it is pretty good now," said Atwal here Tuesday.
Atwal, 34, the first Indian golfer to win on the European Tour and also the first to play on the US Tour, is looking for a much needed win and the Indian Masters, which will provide him the much needed boost before he embarks on the Nationwide Tour in March in the US.
Last year was an forgettable one for Atwal, who barely stayed in the top-60 of the Nationwide Tour, the second rung tour in US. On the main US PGA Tour, he made the cut in only in six of the 12 starts and finished 210th.
"I played just one tournament in Nationwide Tour in Panama and finished tied fifth. So I am pretty much getting on the right track," he said.
Atwal's last tournament at home was the Indian Open in 2005, when he finished 11th. His last win in home was also at the same venue, the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), in 2003 at the Hero Honda Masters.
"I really like playing here at the DGC. In fact, my last win in 2003 was on this course and I am looking forward to some nice and exciting golf," he said.
He felt that the Indian Masters, which is sanctioned by European Tour, Asian Tour as well as the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), would take the sport to the next level in the country.
"When I first heard about it, I think there was a reporter who called me from India and asked me; at that time there was still some controversy about the Asian Tour and all that stuff. I said it doesn't mater what happens. The Asian Tour and now the European Tour coming to India is really, really good," he said.
"I think there will be more awareness about golf in India. Having guys like Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Adam Scott in India for different events are good vibes."
Atwal found the DGC course, which has been reduced to par-71 from par-72, different from what it was when he last played there.
"If they haven't made those changes it would have been a huge advantage. But I think it is a pretty fair playing field now. I played on the course yesterday and I felt it was way different from what we played on the Asian Tour. I don't think there is really much advantage for the Indians," he said.
"I had three months off, so I practiced really hard and worked on my game and it is pretty good now," said Atwal here Tuesday.
Atwal, 34, the first Indian golfer to win on the European Tour and also the first to play on the US Tour, is looking for a much needed win and the Indian Masters, which will provide him the much needed boost before he embarks on the Nationwide Tour in March in the US.
Last year was an forgettable one for Atwal, who barely stayed in the top-60 of the Nationwide Tour, the second rung tour in US. On the main US PGA Tour, he made the cut in only in six of the 12 starts and finished 210th.
"I played just one tournament in Nationwide Tour in Panama and finished tied fifth. So I am pretty much getting on the right track," he said.
Atwal's last tournament at home was the Indian Open in 2005, when he finished 11th. His last win in home was also at the same venue, the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), in 2003 at the Hero Honda Masters.
"I really like playing here at the DGC. In fact, my last win in 2003 was on this course and I am looking forward to some nice and exciting golf," he said.
He felt that the Indian Masters, which is sanctioned by European Tour, Asian Tour as well as the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), would take the sport to the next level in the country.
"When I first heard about it, I think there was a reporter who called me from India and asked me; at that time there was still some controversy about the Asian Tour and all that stuff. I said it doesn't mater what happens. The Asian Tour and now the European Tour coming to India is really, really good," he said.
"I think there will be more awareness about golf in India. Having guys like Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Adam Scott in India for different events are good vibes."
Atwal found the DGC course, which has been reduced to par-71 from par-72, different from what it was when he last played there.
"If they haven't made those changes it would have been a huge advantage. But I think it is a pretty fair playing field now. I played on the course yesterday and I felt it was way different from what we played on the Asian Tour. I don't think there is really much advantage for the Indians," he said.
Topics mentioned in this article
Golf
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