Indian golfer Arjun Atwal believes this week’s inaugural AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will provide another opportunity for Asia’s top stars to showcase their growing stature in world golf.
The $1.1 million showpiece, the first tri-sanctioned event by the Asian, European and Sunshine Tours, begins at the spectacular Heritage Golf Club on Thursday with the 132-man field split equally amongst the three major Tours and sprinkled with invited players.
The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is one of five new tournaments on the Asian Tour this season and Atwal, a former number one and eight-time winner, is ready to put his money on an Asian Tour member lifting the title on Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s so exciting. It’s the first time having the three Tours tri-sanction a tournament and this is such a beautiful place,” enthused Atwal, who is the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour.
“It’s good to have all three Tours coming together. You get to see how the other players are doing and it just creates opportunities for our players. If one of us wins, it gives us a European Tour card... it’s a great opportunity.
“Obviously, it’s been getting better on the Asian Tour every year. Back in the day, it was rare to see Asian Tour players winning European Tour events. It happened once in a while. Now if an Asian Tour member doesn’t win, it will be surprising. You know that one of our players can win anytime.”
ADVERTISEMENT
India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar said: “It’s a great week. I came out here to the course yesterday and played a few holes and it’s a beautiful layout. The course is very picturesque, lots of beautiful holes.
“Being tri-sanctioned, it’s going to open the door to international players. I think it will be great if we can come here more often.”