Home hopes sprout on grainy greens

A putter in hand,Janet Squire was a careful watcher as Jeev decided to give first attention to his greens-strategy at the DLF Golf amp; Country Club.

A putter in hand,Janet Squire was a careful watcher as Jeev Milkha Singh decided to give first attention to his greens-strategy at the DLF Golf amp; Country Club on Wednesday. The top-ranked Indian has chosen to stick with the Englishwoman on his bag this week rather than a local caddy,but with everyone branding the grainy greens as the biggest challenge at the Avantha Masters,Squire was on target in the object of her observation a day ahead of the first round.

I think the grain will be a really big factor, Jeev said a little later. There are about three holes on this course where you need to strategise as far as hitting goes,but other than that,with the rough being low as well,the key will be putting.

SSP Chowrasia agreed. When I was playing in Dubai last week,a lot of the European Tour guys came to me asking if I could help them get a good local caddy. They are very worried about being able to read the putting surface. I think that might turn out to be the big advantage for the Indians, he said.

With the Indian big names coming out in full force for a tournament at home in a long time,they are obviously the focus of attention. But an exact two years after Chowrasia dropped in the last putt to complete his fairytale win at the Indian Masters,another European Tour tournament in the country comes as a huge,easy-on-the-wallet opportunity for the domestic bunch.

Familiarity pays

You would always give an Indian the best chance in a tournament here, Arjun Atwal,who has been giving the European Tour a good amount of time this year,said on Wednesday. Theyre familiar with the character of the course,they know the putting surface,plus there is the bonus of a simpler way to the bigger tours with a win at home.

C Muniyappa is the latest conqueror of the course,of course,but the Indian Open winner is just one on the list of possible beneficiaries.

Shamim Khan,who shared the first-round lead at the Johnnie Walker Classic at this course in 2008,but faded away so dramatically that he couldnt even make the cut,will want to finish correctly this time around.

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New dad Jeev,meanwhile,between gushes about the joy of being a father,talks of a conservative playing strategy this week. I dont think Im going to use the driver too much. The trees have grown in the two years that I last played here,and they can be a bit of a trouble if the wind picks up,as it does in the afternoons, he said.

But while spotting the Indian flag will be an easy task on the leaderboard this week,the whole contingent of the Asian Tour big-wigs is in Gurgaon and they would like to have a say as well. Australias Adam Blyth,who was the first-round leader at the course during the Indian Open last year will stake his claim,as will Chinas Liang wen-Chong,who has won in the country before.

Not to be forgotten,of course,are the European Tour regulars led by Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke,Englishman David Howell and Spains Pablo Larrazabal.