And now it’s Golf: Randhawa makes it to top in Japan circuit

Jyoti Randhawa has picked up from where he left last year. The reigning Asian Order of Merit winner today became the first professional golfer from the sub-continent to win on the Japanese Golf Tour. His historic win at the Suntory Open in Chiba saw him pocket the winner’s cheque of $175,000.

Randhawa’s display is all the more creditable considering the competitive nature of the Japanese tour, which rated just below the US and European golf circuits. The big prize money on this tour attracts top foreign professionals and a number of talented local players. There are a number of American and European professionals who have shifted base to Japan. US star Brian Watts, who narrowly missed the chance to win the Open Championship in ’97, is a regular feature here. Besides the millions of dollars up for grabs, there are swanky cars lining the greens waiting for the winners. Randhawa too is in line to win one such machine in case he gets the Rookie of the Year Award. The 31-year-old golfer, who last year became the first Indian to win the Asian Order of Merit, too should be applauded for his mental toughness considering demands of the Japanese tour. Alien conditions, unfamiliar language and the general monotony have seen hardened professionals like Thailand’s soldier-turned-golfer Thongchai Jaidee returning to the comfort of the Asian tour. This week at Japan, Randhawa was at his best. Playing a tournament, which had the US tour regular Phil Mikleson as the star attraction, he carded an opening round three-under 69 to tie for third place. A second consecutive bogey-free 69 saw him maintain his third place going into the weekend and an even-par 71 was good enough to give him a two-shot lead after the penultimate round.

Jyoti played solid golf on the final day, with pars on the first seven holes and birdies on the eighth, tenth and 11th holes to get to nine-under for the tournament. He faltered slightly coming in, dropping a shot on the par-four 17th, but maintained a two-stroke lead over his nearest competitor, Paul Sheehan. Finally, a concluding par was good enough to give him his first Japanese tour victory with a total of eight-under-par, 276.

As Randhawa’s kitty swells to 23,168,633 million yen after this win he moves to the 27th spot on the money rankings. The Indian star now moves to the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, where he finished sixth last year.