In-form Chowrasia promises exciting battle in golf tournament

Bangalore, Dec 18 (UNI) Fresh from his resounding victory at the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok, in form professional golfer SSP Chowrasia is looking forward to the First Emaar-MGF PGTI championship at the Karnataka Golf Association Golf course from tomorrow.

The championship, offering a purse of Rs 50 lakh, was promoted by golf in Dubai. A 72-holes stroke-pay competition, the championship was the highest prize money event in this part of the country.

Talking to newspersons here, Emaar MGF COO Sanjay Malhotra said ''we plan to create golf courses of international repute in India, with the first one coming up in Hyderabad, followed by Punjab, thus giving impetus to the promotion of this game, which is already booming in the country.'' A confident Chowrasia said ''the experience of playing golf on the Asian tour has really improved my game and I will take that experience with me when I tee off tomorrow. My confidence is high and even though I anticipate some tough competition this week, I am ready to take it on.'' Winner of Mercuries Taiwan Masters 2006 Gaurav said ''with tournaments like the Emaar-MGF PGTI championship as a part of our schedule, there is no limit to what heights the game can scale in India. I am sure we will witness some fabulous golf this week.

Indian professional golfers are winning all over the world and are ranked amongst the best and the same standards will be on display this week.'' Providing sheen to the tournament would be young guns Gaganjeet Bhullar and Chirag Kumar, both silver medallists in the recently concluded Asian Games. The duo, having played the Asian Tour Q-school, would be making their debut on the Indian professional tour.

Mukesh, the No.1 player on the Indian circuit for the past four years, was also confident of a good outing here. ''The course is a really testing one and I am looking forward to teeing it up this week.'' UNI MSP GD DH KP1959