Straight and simple is mantra for success at DGC : Randhawa

New Delhi, Jan 21 (UNI) ''Keep it straight and simple'' if you intend to tame the majestic Delhi Golf Club course which will play host to the forthcoming EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters from February 5 to 10.

''Flirting with an over-aggressive approach can be dangerous and you are better off keeping the ball in play,'' said ace pro Jyoti Randhawa, .

''It's an exciting, but a tough course which provides a true test of golf. There are no water hazards, but the thorny bushes lining the fairways put a huge premium on accuracy,'' said Randhawa, who recently won the Hero Honda Indian Open there.

''If you ask me what's the key to success at the DGC, I would say 'hit straight' and putt well. And that's it,'' said Randhawa.

''I think four holes are quite tricky and you need to play them smartly. The fourth, the sixth, the ninth and the 16th can make or break your round if you don't play them well.

''On the ninth, for instance, you need to lay up because of the tricky slope there and then if you don't hit straight on the sixth, a double-bogey is guaranteed,'' said Randhawa, who has the distinction of shooting an eight-under-par there.

Many of the great players of yesteryears such as Peter Thompson, David Graham, Graham Marsh, Payne Stewart, Maurice Bembridge, have relished the challenge and enjoyed playing on the Lodhi Course.

Now it's the turn of the likes of Ernie Els, Thomas Bjorn, David Howell, Mark O'Meara and Darren Clarke, to name a few, to showcase their skills in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters, ''The presence of such big names will certainly provide a much-needed boost to the game in India,'' said Randhawa. ''The game is growing in a big way in India, and this European Tour event will be a good advertisement for Indian golf on the global stage,'' he said.

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