Chowrasia Secures Home Win at Avantha

S S P Chowrasia 

S S P Chowrasia secured a home victory as he overcame Robert Coles in an exciting finish to the Avantha Masters.

The 32 year old Indian shot a closing round of 67 to finish 15 under par at DLF Golf and Country Club - one ahead of Coles, who saw his hopes of a first European Tour title denied in the cruellest of circumstances.

Chowrasia looked to be cruising as he notched up seven birdies in his first 14 holes.

But a double bogey at the par three 16th left the door open for Coles, who missed two golden birdie opportunities in the closing holes before taking four shots to get down from the edge of the green at the last.

“I had one bad tee shot on the 16th today - besides that it was an outstanding round,” said Chowrasia after landing the €300,000 first prize. “Even after the 16th I knew I had a chance to make birdies on the last two holes.

“However, when the birdies didn’t come my way, I was confident of taking it to a play-off. But fortunately for me, the play-off was not required.

“I am now ready to go back on The European Tour and have a real go at succeeding in Europe. That is my goal now, to succeed in Europe because I really struggled there in my first season – with the swing problems and also on the mental side of things.

“I am now going to sit down and rework my schedule so that I can have the best chance of success. I have a little more experience in Europe now and that is so important because I know the golf courses and know the cultures. It’s a really exciting time for me.”

Chowrasia started his round with a gain, added a 15 foot birdie putt at the fourth and sank putts of 15 and 40 feet at the seventh and eighth to turn in 32.

The impressive start continued after the turn with a ten foot putt at the tenth and his tee shot to the 11th was within six feet.

By the time Chowrasia birdied the 14th the rest of the field had been blown away – except for 38 year old third round leader Coles, whose approach at the seventh span back into the cup for eagle.

Chowrasia, whose other European Tour triumph also came in New Delhi at the 2008 Indian Masters, made his first mistake at the 16th when a rushed tee shot was pulled left, and led to a double bogey five.

Two closing pars saw Chowrasia set a clubhouse target of 15 under, with Coles on the same mark at that stage with four holes remaining.

And when he hit a dreamy approach to eight feet on the 15th, he must have thought his long wait for European Tour glory was coming to an end.

But he failed to convert and missed an even better chance at the penultimate hole.

Coming down the par five last, Coles still looked to be in command as he hit a perfect drive and left his second in greenside rough.

However, on a difficult downhill lie he thinned his chip 20 feet past, overcooked what would have been a tournament-winning putt and could not force a play-off with his eight foot return effort.

“The ball was really far below my feet and a bit of grass in between it and it was just a really awkward shot,” Coles said of his third shot at the 18th.

“I really needed to get underneath to get it up in the air as soon as I could but the ground was rock hard and it just kind of flew on me a bit.

“Then I got over the putt and I was still thinking I could make it and win the tournament, but I just hit it so hard and it flew out of the middle of the putter and then I obviously missed the one coming back.

“I hit a great drive down there and, let’s be honest, should have at least made par from there but the second shot was obviously adrenaline driven and then you saw what happened from there.

“It is obviously disappointing but I don’t feel too bad right now talking to you but I will probably feel a lot worse tomorrow when it sinks in. I did have a great chance to win.”

US Open Championship runner-up Grégory Havret claimed third on 13 under with a closing 68, with first round leader Robert-Jan Derksen fourth following a 69.

Gareth Maybin carded a two under par final round 70 to finish in share of 22nd place on 6 under to earn €18,720.

Avantha Masters Results

Chowrasia, Haastrup and Larrazabal Lead

S S P Chowrasia

Third round leader Robert Coles was joined out in front by home favourite SSP Chowrasia, Dane Mark F Haastrup and Spain's Pablo Larrazábal as the final round of the Avantha Masters began.

Coles had returned early to the DLF Golf and Country Club to finish his third round - there had been a total of five hours play lost to fog the first three days - and birdied the par five last to move one ahead of overnight leader Larrazábal on 12 under.

And the 38 year old Englishman remained on that mark with pars at his first three holes of the final round.

Chowrasia birdied the first and fourth to remain in contention for a second European Tour category - the first also came on Indian soil - while Larrazábal matched his gain at the fourth for a share of the lead.

Haastrup took the 117th and last card on last year's Race to Dubai but was putting in a serious challenge for a two-year exemption and €300,000 payday with an opening birdie.

Just one behind were Indian golf legend Jeev Milkha Singh and his compatriot and namesake Sujjan Singh, with US Open Championship runner-up Grégory Havret lurking on ten under.

Larrazabal Leads Incomplete Round 3

Pablo Larrazabal

Gareth Maybin signed for a one under par round of 71 on Saturday at the Avantha Masters in New Delhi dropping just one shot at the DLF Golf and Country Club to remain four under overall for the tournament and the only Irish player in the event after Paul McGinley missed the cut..

Pablo Larrazábal hopes to demonstrate both mental and physical improvements in his game at the final round of the Avantha Masters after firing a six under par 66 to take the third round clubhouse lead.

The Spaniard, who was named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 2008, reached 11 under par at DLF Golf and Country Club thanks to an eagle at the par five last.

“I have been working very hard on all the aspects of the game that you need these days to succeed - not just the golf but you have to be physically and mentally fit and I have been working hard on all of it,” said the former ALSTOM Open de France winner.

“I have been seeing the results – I finished 11th in Abu Dhabi and that was good for the confidence, but now that I am in this position with a great chance to win going into the final round, tomorrow will be a big test to show me exactly where I am because it will be a tough day with a lot of pressure.

“I hope that the work that I have done over the winter is going to really show up tomorrow.”

Larrazábal fired four birdies in five holes around the turn, before dropping a shot at the 12th for the second round in succession. But he regained the shot at 14th and finished with a flourish as the 27 year old moved into contention. 

“It was one of the days where I played nicely," he added. "I really got going with the birdie on the sixth and it was a really good day after that. 

“The eagle at the last was the highlight obviously. I hit a nice drive and then got to the ball on the fairway and found it was in an old divot. I had 184 metres to the flag and I thought that I had to hit plenty of club to compensate for the divot. I did that, with a nice faded four iron into about ten feet and made the putt.”

England’s Robert Coles is also 11 under with two holes of his third round remaining - a further 90 minutes was lost to fog on Saturday morning after Thursday’s three-and-a-half hour delay.

The Englishman also enjoyed an eagle when he managed to drive the par four 15th and drain a 25 foot putt.

“This is why you play the game - to get into contention to win tournaments,” said the 38 year old - who will be looking to better his best European Tour finish of tied third at the 2004 Omega European Masters.

“I’ll have all the emotions going tomorrow – nerves, excitement, everything and I just hope that I can give a good account of myself and play well because I have a great chance to win.” 

On a congested leaderboard, home hopes are led by S S P Chowrasia and Sujjan Singh on ten under, alongside Argentina’s Rafa Echenique.

“My hitting was really good and I got birdies on three of the four par threes,” said former Indian Masters champion Chowrasia. “That has really given me a lot of confidence. I have been in this position of contending before, so I am not feeling any pressure.”

Jeev Milkha Singh, the leader after 36 holes, is nine under with five to play, along with US Open Championship runner-up Grégory Havret, first round leader Robert-Jan Derksen, Thai pair Chapchai Nirat and Thaworn Wiratchant and Filipino Angelo Que.

Eight groups were unable to complete their third rounds, and they will resume at 08:00 local time. 

There will be no redraw for the fourth round, which will start at 08:25.

Avantha Masters Live Leader board

Cabrera-Bella Holds Slender Avantha Lead

Rafael Cabrera-Bello

Gareth Maybin carded  a second round 71 to finish on  3 under on Friday and remain inside the the cut which contrasted with Paul McGinley signing for a 75 that left the Dubliner heading for home earlier than he would have liked.

Rafael Cabrera-Bello holds a one shot clubhouse lead, but two of Asia’s biggest golfing superstars are hot on his heels at the Avantha Masters.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee will both resume their second rounds on Saturday morning just one behind the Spaniard’s eight under par target with seven holes remaining.

With Thursday’s three-and-a-half hour fog delay half the field still have to complete their second rounds at DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi.

Cabrera-Bello’s only previous European Tour win came when he sensationally carded a record-equalling 60 in the final round of the Austrian Golf Open to snatch the title from Benn Barham, but he leads from the front after finishing an opening 67 this morning before adding a 69.

“I started really well, hit some great shots and made some great putts,” he said.

“Then on the back nine I struggled a little bit off the tee and didn’t mange to hit as many fairways as I would have liked, which then meant that I didn’t create as many opportunities.”

The 26 year old’s day could have been even better - he was ten under with three to play but dropped a shot at the seventh before finding water at the par five ninth and missing his ten foot par effort. 

“I went for it at the last and it didn’t happen and I ended up in the water,” he added. “I almost saved the par but it just missed. But overall nothing went particularly wrong so I can’t have too many complaints.” 

Cabrera-Bello is in fantastic form having finished seventh, 30th, third and 20th in the four Desert Swing events, but knows that he will need to maintain that level of performance with Singh and Jaidee joined by Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Shiv Kapur, Robert Coles and Mark F Haastrup on seven under.

“I am playing well but this is a very weird sport and you have to try to focus day by day and shot by shot and if I am in with a chance on Sunday I will try to take it,” added Cabrera-Bello, who had posted five birdies before his late slip.

Singh, a three-time European Tour winner and twice Asian Number One had moved into contention late in his first round with two birdies and an eagle in his last four holes, and he continued in a similar vein when he resumed.

The 39 year old had three birdies on the front nine and did not drop a shot in the 11 holes possible before darkness set in.

Former paratrooper Jaidee, whose four European Tour wins have ominously all come on Asian soil, dropped a shot at the first but responded with a hattrick of gains from the third and also birdied the ninth and 11th.

Haastrup took the 117th - and last - card on last season’s Race to Dubai, but has had a difficult start to 2011 after breaking his hand.

“I just slipped walking along the street one day and fell very awkwardly and damaged the meniscus, which is still a little bit weak so I am just using the tape to give it a little bit more support,” he said.

“I didn’t have great results in Qatar or Dubai but the fact that I made the cuts in both of those events was really good for my confidence and really good just to play four rounds in both tournaments because the main thing that I need right now is to play as often as I can.”

First round leader Robert-Jan Derksen made a disappointing start to his second round to be two over at the turn and back on four under.

Leader board

Maybin and McGinley Delayed by Fog

Robert-Jan Derksen

Play was eventually suspended on Thursday at the Avantha Masters due to darkness and so round 1 will re-start on Friday morning with a number of players still to finish, including Gareth Maybin and Paul McGinley. 

Maybin is one under par through 10 holes with McGinley already in some difficulty having opened with a triple bogey on the first and ended the day n3 over after eight holes. 

Robert-Jan Derksen set the first round clubhouse target at the Avantha Masters before revealing he plans to take the trophy to India’s most famous landmark if he wins on Sunday. The Dutchman carded a six under par 66 at DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi before spilling the beans on an unusual bet with his caddie. 

“I’ve got a bet with my caddie that if we win this week we’ll take the trophy to the Taj Mahal but I need to win first of course,” said the 37 year old. 

“I’ve never been and I think this is a great occasion to make that happen.” 

Derksen started his round on the back nine and although he missed birdie opportunities on his first two holes, he got the ball rolling with a ten footer on the tenth. 

Further birdies followed at the 12th, 17th, 18th, third and sixth before he completed his scoring at the ninth – his last – with an 18 foot effort. 

The two-time European Tour winner only broke 70 twice on the recent Desert Swing and put the improvement down to work he has been doing on the greens. 

“It was good. It was a bit of a wait this morning, but it was worth the wait,” said Derksen, referring to fog which delayed the start by three-and-a-half hours. 

“I played steady, drove it nicely – I think that’s important on this course. Putting was much better than the last few weeks, I’ve struggled a little bit with that but today it was much better. 

“I think these greens you need to be more patient, I think I was very patient today. I’ve worked hard on my putting the last few days.” 

Derksen holds a one shot lead over Argentina’s Julio Zapata and England’s Mark Foster, who both recorded five under par rounds of 67, as well as Australian Darren Beck who had five holes to play. 

Challenge Tour graduate Zapata is seeking a first top-ten finish on The European Tour, and the 34 year old made a positive start with an eagle at the [par five sixth and four birdies on the way in. 

Foster has not won on The European Tour since 2003, but the 35 year old holed a 20 foot birdie putt on the eighth – his penultimate hole – to complete a six birdie, three bogey round, which also featured an eagle two at the 15th. 

Amongst the group on four under are last year’s runner-up Richard Finch, who birdied his last two holes in a bogey-free round, and home favourite Jeev Milkha Singh. 

Two over par after seven holes and a trip to the water, the Indian superstar stormed back with four birdies and a closing eagle on the par five ninth to move firmly in contention. 

Derksen’s compatriot Maarten Lafeber, who like Foster recorded his only European Tour title eight years ago, had a hole in one at the par three 11th to follow four birdies on his front nine. 

But three bogeys in his last seven holes saw him sign for a three under 69 – although he did win a Volvo XC 60 for his ace. 

“It was 160 metres with the wind coming in a little bit off the right,” he said. 

“I hit a punchy, three-quarter six iron. I aimed a little right of the pin to allow the wind to bring it in and hit it perfectly. It was going straight for the flag but we couldn’t tell if it was in or just very close. We were all looking and wondering until the crowd started clapping and jumping around so then we knew that it was in. 

“I have had a few on Tour but I have never won a car. I had won at the Volvo Scandinavian Masters one year but didn’t win a car, then I had one at the K Club in Ireland and won a weekend at the K Club and now I have this one and I finally won the car. 

“Nice to win the car but I have to be honest that I was really upset when I finished the round because I missed three really short outs from less than three feet during my final holes today and it ruined my score. I was six under and played really nicely all day and just putted horrendously.” 

Roughly half the field will return at 0715 local time on Friday to complete their first rounds, with second round tee times pushed back two hours and 20 minutes. 

Avantha Masters Leader board

Fog Delays Avantha Masters

Heavy fog delayed the start of the Avantha Masters, India's lone co-sanctioned European Tour event, on Thursday.

Storms and rain earlier this week cooled conditions in Delhi and the DLF Golf and Country Club was shrouded in fog when the golfers and officials reached the course on Thursday morning.

Almost three-and-half hours' play was lost to poor visibility before the first group, comprising Indian pro Rahil Gangjee and South Africans Keith Horne and Peter Karmi, teed off.

"The visibility was so low that I could not see the fairways," a Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) official told Reuters.

"You could not see beyond 20-30 feet, it was so bad. Things look better now but I'm afraid quite a few golfers will have to return tomorrow to complete their first round."

While most players huddled in the clubhouse, a few Thai golfers braved the chill and wind to make it to the putting green to fine-tune their short game.

Australian Andrew Dodt defends his title in the Asian Tour season-opener.

Golf Growing in India

Gaganjeet Bhullar, Andrew Dodt and Jeev Milkha Singh 

The European Tour makes its fourth visit to India this week with the Avantha Masters, which is jointly sanctioned by The European Tour, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and the Asian Tour, represents the pinnacle.

In India golf is growing at a phenomenal rate, spurred on by the development of the PGTI, the arrival of The European Tour and now golf’s inclusion in the Olympics. 

Cricket still dominates the back pages, but golf is next in line as the media soaks up the global success of home grown players such as Jeev Milhka Singh, Shiv Kapur and SSP Chowrasia. These and many more are seizing the opportunities afforded them through the association with The European Tour and taking golf to a new level.

The rapid progression is highlighted on the ground with 230 courses across the country, an increase of 20-25% over the last decade, and 50 new courses in development. There are an estimated half a million active golfers, a number that is growing fast. And while there are only two recognised public courses, private courses are increasingly being opened for public play and golf’s inclusion in the Olympics has sparked moves for the provision of a public driving range in every city.

Kapur is one of the standard bearers for Indian golf, at the forefront of the game’s development in his home country and carrying it onto the international stage.

“Seven or eight years ago when I was thinking about turning professional I was still in college and my parents didn’t think it was a good career move because the local tour in India was so small,” he said. “When you have to stand on your own two feet it’s not that easy. But now the local tour has grown and now you get tournaments like this week’s Avantha Masters.

“The kids get really excited about coming out and seeing us play for such big money. It is a great boost for golf and the juniors who strive to be where we are. Golf has grown a lot and it is the fastest growing sport in the country. In the next five years there are more than 50 or 60 new golf courses due to open so golf is growing at a fast pace.”

Much of that is down to the work of Guatam Thapar, President of the PGTI since its launch in 2006 and Chairman and CEO of Avantha, this week’s tournament sponsors. In the first three years of his stewardship, prize money on the PGTI increased by more than 250% and this growth was recognised with the induction of the PGTI to the International Federation of PGA Tours in July 2009.

“Gauthum Thapar is probably the most important man in Indian golf at the moment,” said Singh. “He is supports the Indian Tour, he owns Avantha and he is very rich man. There are a few billionaires in India who really support the game and that is great for us because they want to see golf grow in India.”

The arrival of The European Tour and success of home players is helping raise golf’s profile in a country passionate about sport. Arjun Atwal was the first Indian to win on The European Tour, taking the Malaysian Open title in 2003, and he has been followed by Singh and Chowrasia. Indeed, Chowrasia’s victory in the first European Tour co-sanctioned event in India in 2008 highlighted what can be achieved with the heart-warming story of the son of the local greenkeeper taking the title.

“Having the Tour in India has been good for the local players to rub shoulders with the best players,” continued Kapur. “It is a great opportunity for them. The 20 or so local players get to play in a European Tour field and play for €1.8million. SSP (Chowrasia) is a great example – he won the first co-sanctioned event here in India and he got a three year exemption on The European Tour. For the India players and some of the Asian Tour players it is a great stepping stone to build on. All of us growing up, we dreamt of playing on The European Tour one day. Having The European Tour in India is such a great boost for golf in our country and in Asia.”

The future is bright for the sport and golf’s inclusion in the Olympics will only give further fuel to the game’s development. Singh, whose father Milkha Singh – “the Flying Sikh” – was a renowned sprinter, is relishing the impact this will have.

“You can’t overstate the impact that the Olympic decision will have on golf,” he said. “Countries all over the world will sit up and take notice of that and there will be a lot more money coming into golf. Golf in the Olympics will have a huge impact in India.

“We need to build more public driving ranges and more public courses so that the common man can give it a go. There are plans to do that – since golf was reinstated as an Olympic sport I am sure that our Sports Minister and the Government are keen to do that.

“The European Tour has come into India at the right time – it is a growing market so there are benefits for both parties. The Tour can do a lot commercially in a market like that and our players can benefit from the experience of playing on a Tour that has the best players in the world playing regularly.”

Further developments have also been made with the first Challenge Tour event co-sanctioned with the PGTI taking place last month, hosted by Singh. And in a perfect illustration of how well home players are progressing, Gaganjeet Bhullar became the first Indian to win on the Challenge Tour after triumphing by one shot at the season-opening Gujarat Kensville Challenge in what was the first men’s golf event to be played in Western India.

There is a collective will to build the game throughout India with The European Tour playing a key role and this week’s Avantha Masters, with its 20% increase in prize money from 2010, is another solid foundation block in that building process.

Avantha Masters Tee times

Gaganjeet Bhullar Ready for Avantha

Gaganjeet Bhullar

Challenge Tour champion Gaganjeet Bhullar of India is aiming to carry his sensational form into this week’s Avantha Masters at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Delhi.

Labelled by many as the man to beat this week, Bhullar could not have come into the €1.8 million European Tour event in better form.

The 22 year old is currently riding the crest of a wave after winning three successive tournaments, starting with the inaugural Gujarat Kensville Challenge in his homeland.

Bhullar said: “I’m having a dream run this year, winning three weeks in a row and I could not have asked for a better start to my season. I’m really feeling positive about my game right now, so let’s see what happens this week.”

Bhullar won his second Asian Tour title at last year’s season-opening event, but will be hoping to secure his first European Tour title at the Avantha Masters, which is tri-sanctioned by The European and Asian Tours, and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

“Last year’s season-opener was just my first tournament for the year, but this year I’ve already won three tournaments in a row so I think it’s definitely going to be better than last year,” said Bhullar.

“I’ve got more playing opportunities now compared to last year. All these have helped developed me into a better player, which is always good if you want to be among the best.”

Pariya Sets Sights on Avantha Masters

Pariya Junhasavasdikul

Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul is determined to exceed his own expectations again and believes that this week’s season-opening Avantha Masters will provide the perfect platform to kickstart his title ambitions.

It was a season to remember for the 26-year-old Thai last year when he claimed his maiden Asian Tour title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and registered five other top-10s, including a tied-second finish at the King’s Cup in Thailand.

This year, Pariya hopes to achieve his targets in a similar way beginning at this week’s €1.8 million (approximately US$2.3 million) showpiece which will tee off at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Thursday

“I definitely want to win some bigger tournaments and move up the world rankings. That’s pretty much my goal for the year. I hope to play some events outside of Asia too and hopefully win something,” said the rising Thai star.

“It’s a new season and it’s going to be a new challenge. Last year, I set my goals to finish inside the top-65 and I exceeded that halfway through the season. Hopefully I can do it like last year, achieve my goals right before half the season is through,” said Pariya, who graduated from Purdue University in the United States with a pre-law bachelors degree and minored in aviation management.

Despite having been discharged from the hospital recently, Pariya, like his flying interest where he has chalked over 100 hours of flying time, wants to soar up the leaderboard and stay in contention for his second Asian Tour win this week.

“I just came out of hospital a few days ago as I had a pretty bad fever. Right now, I just hope to recover in time and be in better shape when the tournament starts,” said Pariya.

“Technique wise, after working with my coach on my body angle, I’ve everything in place and will try to tighten up all the loose ends that were giving me some problems at the end of last year. Everything should be in position now,” added Pariya.

Meanwhile India’s C.Muniyappa is seeking to end his two-year title drought since his last victory at the Hero Honda Indian Open in 2009.

It was at the DLF Golf and Country Club two years old that the 34-year-old achieved much fame after he emerged victorious in a play-off against Korea's Lee Sung. 

Returning to the scene of his famous victory , Muniyappa knows he can relieve those winning memories if he plays true to form.

“I like this golf course as I’ve won here before and I know how to play well here. I feel that I’m ready and I hope to achieve more success on the Asian Tour this season,” said Muniyappa.

Avantha Masters Entry List

Focus On - Andrew Dodt

Andrew Dodt winner in 2010

Australia’s Andrew Dodt has all the talent in the world and it was for all to see at the 2010 Avantha Masters in India at the inaugural edition as the Asian Tour member triumphed by one shot to finally win his first professional title. Ahead of this year's event we look back at last year’s Avantha Masters.

For so long, it has always been the case of ‘so near and yet so far’ for talented Australian Andrew Dodt. 

Having come close to victory on numerous occasions but only to falter at the last hurdle, Dodt’s desire to lift the inaugural Avantha Masters trophy was indeed understandable.

As an amateur, he was highly rated and in his rookie season on the Asian Tour, Dodt showed his peers what a cool dude he was by producing eye-catching golf thrown in with his laid-back composure.

“I’ve been playing well and if I continue my good form, this could be my week,” said Dodt at the start of the newest Indian event on the Asian Tour.

Two runner-up finishes in Australia and New Zealand prior to the start of the new Asian Tour season put him in a good mood and the Australian made sure he would not play second fiddle again by posting a final round of four-under-par 68 to win the Avantha Masters with a winning total of 14-under-par 274 at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

“To win a professional golf tournament is absolutely huge. I’ve come close a few times and to actually pull it off is a dream come true,” said Dodt, whose rookie season in 2008 also included a runner-up outing at the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters where he lost in a play-off to Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.

England’s Richard Finch closed with a 66 while Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka posted a 71 to take a share of fourth place alongside Scotland’s David Drysdale and England’s Barry Lane and Richard Bland on 276.

With as many as seven players starting the final round tied for the lead, the contest at the €1.5 million (approximately US$2.1 million) tri-sanctioned event between the Asian Tour, European Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) was always going to be a keenly fought battle.

However, it was Dodt who eventually prevailed by breaking out of the crowded pack with a closing birdie on the par-five-18th for his career breakthrough which was worth €250,000.

“It was a huge relief when I birdied the 18th. I had a pretty good lie in the rough and I was deciding between which clubs to use. I decided to be more aggressive and hit a pretty good shot but it just didn’t turn,” said Dodt of his second shot which fell into the bunker.

“The bunker was fine as it was kind of a standard bunker shot and I managed to hit a good one out,” added Dodt whose bunker shot fell within two feet of the pin which he tapped in for birdie and the win.

“This has been my third week in a row and I was just hoping for a good week. I stayed patient and did what I had to do and I’m really happy that I won.”

India’s Rahil Gangjee emerged as the local favourite after the country’s marquee names such as Jeev Milkha Singh and Gangjeet Bhullar all failed to make it into the weekend rounds.

Gangjee was clearly at the centre of attention amongst the huge galleries as he entered the final round as the overnight joint-leader. He stayed in title contention for the most part of the last day but eventually ran out of gas.

Three successive bogeys from the 16th hole derailed his chances of ending his six-year title drought. “It was a disappointing round and I look forward to a better week,” said Gangjee.

Leading final round scores

274 - Andrew Dodt (AUS) 67-68-71-68

275 - Richard Finch (ENG) 69-69-71-66

276 - David Drysdale (SCO) 68-67-71-70, Tetsuji Hiratsuka (JPN) 73-62-70-71, Barry Lane (ENG) 67-67-71-71, Richard Bland (ENG) 68-71-66-71

277 - Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) 68-71-66-72

278 - Jason Knutzon (USA) 70-67-72-69, Steven O'Hara (SCO) 69-73-67-69, Darren Clarke (NIR) 71-66-70-71, Oliver Fisher (ENG) 70-67-71-70, Jeppe Huldahl (DEN) 71-70-66-71, Chan Yih-shin (TPE) 65-68-72-73

279 - Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 67-68-74-70, Rick Kulacz (AUS) 68-67-74-70, Richie Ramsay (SCO) 71-68-70-70, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 67-69-69-74

Note: Article taken from 2010 Asian Tour Year in Review Magazine which is now available with February’s edition of Asian Golf Monthly. It is also available in an E-zine format on www.asiantour.com

McGinley and Maybin Play Avantha

Jeev Milkha Singh

Paul McGinley and Gareth Maybin are the two Irish entries this week when The European Tour moves to India for the second edition of the Avantha Masters, a tournament that will cement golf’s reputation as the fastest-growing sport in the country.

The beautiful DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon will once again play host to a tournament which boasts an increased prize fund of €1.8 million, a significant 20 per cent rise on last year’s total and part of a five-year strategy to progressively grow the tournament with the ultimate goal of making it one of the strongest events on The European Tour International Schedule.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh will be the main attraction in his homeland, with the three-time European Tour winner hoping to dethrone defending champion Andrew Dodt of Australia and pick up a European Tour title in his own country.

“It is great that we have a European Tour event in India, and it would be a huge honour to win in front of my own people,” said Singh.

Singh will be joined by his fellow Indians SSP Chowrasia, Shiv Kapur and Jyoti Randhawa, who is attached to the DLF Golf and Country Club; while international names such as Ryder Cup players Paul Broadhurst and David Howell of England, Søren Hansen of Denmark and Thai ace Thongchai Jaidee, will all ensure a global focus for the event.

While those established names will be among the favourites to take the title, the man to look out for may well be another Indian, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who has won his last three tournaments, including the European Challenge Tour’s Gujarat Kensville Challenge last month.

“I am currently on a winning streak so there is a lot of positive energy around me, and that helps me come through even in tough situations,” said Bhullar.

“This is the second hat-trick of titles in my career, and it has given me some much-needed momentum ahead of a long and gruelling season.”

Dodt, meanwhile, cannot wait to return to the DLF Golf and Country Club as he bids to spark memories of his career-changing victory last year.

The Australian emerged the victor with a brilliant birdie on the 72nd hole to take the title by a single stroke.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back and defending my title,” said Dodt.

“That is something that I have never done before so it is quite exciting, and I am hoping that the memories from last year can spur me on because things haven’t gone too well since then.

“It was such a big moment for me in my career to win in India last year, and even though I haven’t really kicked on it gave me some great opportunities, so hopefully I can contend again and have another chance to win.”