Internet Desk: Confident of negotiating the tricky Delhi Golf Course, Indian golfer Arjun Atwal would be aiming to secure full playing rights on the Asian Tour next season when he makes his debut appearance at the USD 400,000 Panasonic Open India starting on Thursday.
Placed 70th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Atwal needs a top-10 finish to break into top-60 on the final money list, which is the cut-off mark for players to retain their full playing rights on the region’s premier Tour.
Atwal had earned a two-year exemption when he claimed his eighth Asian Tour victory at the Dubai Open in 2014. He hopes to take advantage of his course knowledge for a good showing, which will ease his Tour card worries ahead of the season finale next week.
“This course is very tight. The number one key here is to hit as many fairways as you can. If you play from the shot grass, you are going to do well. If you start missing fairways, it’s basically a done deal for you. It’s all about hitting fairways here,” said the 43-year-old Atwal.
“It’s good to be back at the Delhi Golf Club. I have played a lot on this course but it’s my first time playing in this tournament. I am excited to be here. I will just treat this week like any other week,” added Atwal, the first Indian golfer to win on the PGA Tour in 2010.
Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour but languishing in 63rd place, kept up his hopes of turning his season around as he returns to the scene of his breakthrough victory 12 years ago.
“It’s always nice to be back here at the Delhi Golf Club. This is where I claimed my first Asian Tour victory. The course is still as tight as before. You got to keep the ball on the fairways all the time. If you can keep the ball in play, you will get better chances of making birdies.
Sitting just one rung above Mamat on the Merit rankings, Javi Colomo of Spain is also fighting to secure his playing rights on the Asian Tour. He has not lost his Tour card since coming through the Qualifying School in 2012.
Defending champion Chiragh Kumar of India will headline the sixth edition of the Panasonic Open India alongside countryman Jeev Milkha Singh, Chikkarangappa S. and China’s Liang Wen-chong, who is making a welcome return to India since his memorable victory at the historic venue in 2008.