Arjun Atwal and Daniel Chopra to feature in Selangor Masters event

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Arjun Atwal

Selangor (Malaysia), Sep 9 (IANS) PGA Tour champions Daniel Chopra of Sweden and India's Arjun Atwal, who is also a double Malaysian Open winner, will be amongst a star-studded cast at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters next week.

The popular RM1.3 million ($410, 000) Asian Tour tournament has also attracted five members of Team Asia, who fought from the brink of defeat to earn a thrilling draw with Europe in the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM in Malaysia earlier this season.

India's Anirban Lahiri, currently second on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit, compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar, Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng, Bangladeshi trailblazer Siddikur Rahman and Malaysia's very own Nicholas Fung have all signed up for the Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor Golf Club September 18-21. Lahiri, a four-time champion on the Asian Tour, will be eager to improve on last year's runner-up finish at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters to Thailand's Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who has also confirmed his title defence.

Korea's Baek Seuk-hyun, one of the rising stars of the game in Asia, will also be on a redemption drive next week as he let slip the chance of lifting a first Asian Tour victory with a late stumble on the final day to hand victory to his close friend Pariya and eventually finished third. The well-travelled Chopra will renew his association with Malaysia, which saw him land his first professional title back in 1993 in Johor. He was also victorious in the Malaysian PGA Championship before going on to establish his career internationally.

The 41-year-old, whose father is Indian and who grew up with his grandparents in the sub-continent, won the 2001 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on the Asian Tour and also has three victories on the Web.Com Tour, the secondary circuit, in the United States. Atwal, also 41, is one of India's most successful golfers where he has seven career victories on the Asian Tour, which include triumphs in the Malaysian Open in 2003 and 2008.

He is also a one-time Order of Merit champion and one of his greatest victories was recorded in 2010 when he became the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship. The US-based Atwal credited the Asian Tour for providing him with the platform to launch his career and still supports the region's premier Tour with occasional appearances.

"It gave us the opportunity at the right time when we were young to learn how to do everything in golf - make cuts, travel around Asia. It was so much fun as it was a tight family tour," said Atwal. The Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters joined the Asian Tour Schedule in 2008.

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Jyoti Randhawa makes sensational comeback at European Masters

Crans Montana (Switzerland), Sep 6 (IANS)

Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa is fired up to end his week on a high after he returned with a third round five-under-par 65 at the 2.3 million euro European Masters on Saturday.

"I'm happy with the way I played. I putted well the last two days, made several birdies putts and overall I'm very happy," said Randhawa.

Randhawa's hopes of progressing into the weekend rounds were in danger when he carded a 72 to take a share of tied-111th place after the opening round.

However, a sterling effort on the second day saw the 42-year-old battle back with a 65 before he traded six birdies and one bogey in the penultimate round to compile a three-day total of eight-under-par 202 at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

"I haven't played a lot of golf in the last three months so it was like a practice round on the first day. You get a little edgy and I needed to figure out what I need to do in the second and third round. I'm glad I'm playing well now," said Randhawa, who holds the honour of being India's first Asian No.1 in 2002.

And after more than a decade, the Indian is still displaying the same kind of form which has led him to eight Asian Tour titles throughout his illustrious career.

"I'm 42-years old and I'm still enjoying my golf. In fact, my best golf is yet to come," said Randhawa.

Meanwhile, compatriot Anirban Lahiri had a promising start when he opened with an eagle-three on the first hole before adding a birdie on the fifth hole. But a double-bogey six on 14 left his title hopes all but over as he could only post a 68 for a 205 total.

Rahil Gangjee had a day to forget after he mixed five bogeys against four bogeys to sign for a 71.

The European Masters is the only tournament on European soil to be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour since 2009 and marks the start of the second half of the Asian Tour season.

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Indian debutant Rashid Khan confident of dream start at Omega Masters

Rashid Khan

Crans Montana (Switzerland), Sep 2 (IANS) Indian golfer Rashid Khan is living out his dream as he makes his debut at the Omega European Masters which tees off Thursday. The lanky Indian earned his right to be part of the strong Asian Tour field at this week's Swiss showpiece after winning the SAIL-SBI Open on home soil in March.

With the prospect of taking on the European Tour players in this week's co-sanctioned event, the 23-year-old is indeed relishing the moment. "I'm really excited as this is my first time in Switzerland and playing the Omega European Masters. My life has really changed since I won the Sail Open which I didn't expect to win. And now I'm playing in a co-sanctioned event with the European Tour," said the jubilant Indian.

Rashid is elated as he stands proud among the game's elite at the scenic Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club which is set amidst the picturesque Swiss Alps. And having withstood several setbacks in his career, it will be his hunger and appetite for success that could eventually see the Indian create an impact this week.

"My career has not been smooth sailing but I was always determined to bounce back and do my best in my next tournament," said Rashid. Rashid swallowed the bitter pill on numerous occasions most notably when he missed out on a top-40 finish by two shots at the Asian Tour Qualifying School last year and was again left to rue further blows in his career when he was pipped to the title on several occasions last season.

Rashid finally prevailed when he won this year and now hopes that breakthrough on the region's premier Tour will be a barometer of more success.

The Omega European Masters is the only event to be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour on European soil since 2009 and marks the start of the second half of the Asian Tour 2014 season.The event will see the return of many of the region's best players including India's Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar, Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, Filipino ace Angelo Que and Korea's Baek Seuk-hyun.

Charismatic Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, the European Tour's oldest winner and holder of 21 titles including a win in Switzerland in 2010, will headline the European Tour's challenge alongside Wales' Jamie Donaldson, Italian Matteo Manassero and French star Victor Dubuisson.

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Fung aims home success at Malaysia Golf Championship

Sabah (Malaysia), Sep 2 (IANS)

Reigning Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit champion Nicholas Fung hopes to recover from a fever in time to contend for the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Sabah Championship starting Wednesday.

Fung, who hails from Sabah, has set his sights on winning the RM250,000 (approximately $80,000) ADT event where he will spearhead the local charge alongside Abel Tam, Arie Irawan and Ben Leong, who won on the domestic circuit two weeks ago.

ADT hopefuls American Brett Munson, Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand, England's Peter Richardson and Nils Floren of Sweden, who occupy the top-five on the current ADT Order of Merit, will also feature at the Sabah Golf and Country Club in Kota Kinabalu.

Other notable contenders include Grant Jackson of England, James Byrne of Scotland, American James Bowen and Ye Jian-feng of China, who will be amongst an international cast ranging from over 16 countries.

Despite feeling unwell, Fung is determined to pull through the week and get his game back in shape.

"I've been running a temperature since yesterday but I will try my best to play well this week. Hopefully I can get well before the tournament starts. I am definitely hoping to do well in front of the home crowd," said the 24-year-old Fung, who represented Team Asia at the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM earlier in March.

"I haven't played well in the last month or so as I was trying new equipment which didn't really fit my game. I've decided to revert to my old equipment, which has previously yielded success, this week," added Fung.

The PGM Sabah Championship, 15th leg on the ADT schedule this season, is one of the 12 ADT events held in Malaysia this year.

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2014 Asian Games: Manu Gandas to lead the Indian Golf team at the games

Indian golf at the Incheon Asian Games will be represented by four men and three women which includes Feroz Garewal and Aditi Ashok, who represented the nation at the Youth Olympics 2014 in Nanjing in July of this year. Also part of the team is Manu Gandas who won silver in the men’s individual stroke play from last year’s Youth Asian Games also held in Nanjing, China and Gurbani Singh, a two-time winner of the All India Junior Golf Championship, a winner of 16 amateur titles and numerous junior championships in India.

None of the Indian men who had clinched silver in the team event in the last Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010 are part of this year’s event in South Korea. With the help of that lone medal, India was 3rd in the overall golf final standings in 2010.

The following is the list of golfers at this year’s Asian Games :

1.Feroz Garewal
India’s no.1 amateur golfer. Represented India at the 2014 Youth Olympics.
      
2.Aditi Ashok
 Asia Pacific Trophy at the Junior Open at the West Lancashire Golf Club.Represented India at the 2014 Youth Olympics.
          
3.Manu Gandas
Silver Medalist at the Youth Asian Games in Nanjing 2013.

4.Gurbani Singh
Two time winner of the All India Junior Golf Championship.
                            
5.Samarth Dwivedi    
                
6.Astha Madan    
                
7.Udayan Mane

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David Lipsky leads the Order of Merit list; Anirban Lahiri drops to second place

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 8 (IANS) David Lipsky has overtaken Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri for the top spot in the Asian Tour Order of Merit list after the American won the European Masters in Switzerland Sunday. Lipsky now hopes to conquer another lofty goal by winning the Order of Merit this season. The 26-year-old secured his career's biggest victory with a terrific play-off triumph over Graeme Storm at Crans Montana to surpass Lahiri at the top of the Asian Tour rankings with his season's haul of $645,770.

His second Asian Tour win saw Lipsky join an illustrious list of champions at the European Masters which includes Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Ian Woosnam, Colin Montgomerie and Nick Price.

He also became only the second American after Craig Stadler to taste victory in the only tournament on European soil to be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

"Winning the Order of Merit was one of my goals when I started out the year and to be in the position that I'm in right now, I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the season both in Europe and in Asia," said Lipsky, who earned a cheque of $504,057.

Lahiri, who finished a commendable tied 13th after closing with a superb 64, finds himself trailing the new Merit leader by $357,897 as the Asian Tour enters its business-end of the season. He lamented a poor start to his week and knows he must start playing catch-up now.

"I definitely needed this result (64) as it has been a tough week. I played well but I haven't scored. It was very important to pick myself up after the opening 70. I played flawless golf in the first 10 holes where I was three-under and I should have played much better right through the week," said the Indian, who has earned $287,873 this season.

"I'm sure I'm going to kick on from here. I've had a good first half (of the season) but that's over and it's time to focus on the second half and winning the Order of Merit is certainly one of my goals. I'm playing well enough to do well and I want to win and not just play during the weekend. There's a lot of golf left and consistency will be the key for me."

The Asian Tour now heads to the $500,000 Tournament Players Championship at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Taipei this week.

Asian Tour Order of Merit Top-10

1. David Lipsky (USA) $645,770

2. Anirban Lahiri (IND) $287,873

3. Rikard Karlberg (SWE) $153,440

4. Rahil Gangjee (IND) $113,508

5. Baek Seuk-hyun (KOR) $109,134

6. Richard T. Lee (CAN) $97,438

7. S.S.P Chowrasia (IND) $87,457

8. Antonio Lascuna (PHI) $85,098

9. Siddikur Rahman (BAN) $79,879

10. Rashid Khan (IND) $77,697

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