With Jeev Milkha Singh out of action and Jyoti Randhawa woefully out of form, Arjun Atwal is easily the most popular home favourite to win the $1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open golf championship, which begins here on Thursday.
On a high following his maiden title on the PGA Tour, Atwal is on a high these days.
Having made 10 cuts from 13 starts, not to forget three top-10 finishes on the Tour, the 37-year-old is optimistic of another great finish at the Delhi Golf Club.
“It is off-season for me, you know. I spent two weeks in Kolkata with family and friends and that helped me recharge my batteries. I did try to get my game in shape before coming here.
“I've had a consistent year and obviously I'm keen to win this week,” said Atwal at a press conference here on Tuesday.
Atwal, winner in 1999 at Kolkata, returns to the Capital's favourite venue where he claimed his first professional title on the domestic tour by beating the field in the 1995 DCM Open. He knows the course well but sounded guarded when asked for his assessment.
“If it's windy on a tree-lined course like this, we'll have a winning score of about seven-under. Since Jyoti (Randhawa) has shot 18-under here and won, I guess it can go up to that (score). I played nine holes during practice and felt the greens have never been in a better condition,” he said. Asked if dew could be factor here this week, Atwal said, “More than dew, I think it's the temperature that'll make the difference.
“The morning temperature here is much lower than in the afternoon.
“In colder conditions and wet fairways, as professionals, we all know that that the ball does not travel that much. We are all aware of it and know how to deal with it.”
Atwal, who said he was pleased with the results following the changes to his swing, revealed that he needed to work more on his short game.
“To be consistent, one has to have a good short game. I am aware of that fact and I am working at it,” said Atwal.
Jeev out injured
Earlier, Jeev Milkha Singh, despite a nagging back injury and obvious discomfort associated with it, met mediapersons and shared the sequence of events that added to aggravate the injury.
Jeev went on to reflect on the core of the problem. “My posture is not good at all. I've been told by my physio, and many other experts have pointed out that my shoulders have become rounded over the years.
“Now I am doing lots of exercises and yoga to get my posture right.
“Luckily for me, this (Indian Open) was the last event of the season. Now I have time to get over my injuries before the start of the next season. I plan to play more in Europe next year. “I will have medical exemption for four starts (on the PGA Tour) but I aim to get into the top-50 in the world (by doing well in Europe) and play at least 12 big events in the US and a few in Japan.
“I also plan to play in Singapore and Hong Kong in the events co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
“But I am really disappointed on missing the Indian Open. I've always considered the Indian Open as the fifth major of the year,” said Jeev of the event he has never won.
