Atwal will be cynosure

Muniyappa, Randhawa too among favourites

With Jeev Milkha Singh pulling out due to a back injury, the 47th edition of the $1.25 million Asian Tour event has lost some sheen. But with names such as Atwal, Randhawa, Muniyappa, Shiv Kapur and Indian-origin Swede Daniel Chopra in fray, it promises to be an exciting week nonetheless at the Delhi Golf Course, where the event returns after being held at the DLF Golf and Country Club last year.

Often referred to as the ‘spiritual home’ of the tournament, the DGC will host the ‘National Open’ for the 23rd time. Atwal, who became the first Indian to win a PGA title by clinching the Wyndham championships trophy in August, is expected to have the largest group of followers when he tees off at the 10th hole along with Thai pro Prayad Marksaeng and Ireland’s former Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley.

The 37-year-old Orlando-based professional’s last Asian Tour win came in the 2008 Malaysian Open, which was his seventh victory on the circuit. He won the Indian Open in 1999 and is looking for an encore after 11 years.

“It’s still quite fresh in my mind. It was in Kolkata, at my home course. I hadn’t played well coming into it but won the Indian Open. I got a lot of confidence from there on,” Atwal said.

“The course is in great condition. I have never seen greens like these during practice. But if it gets windy, this course can get tricky. A winning score could be anywhere between seven-under to 18-under,” added the star, whose practice round also drew quite an audience on Tuesday. Before moving to the US, Atwal had also topped the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2003.