No favourites on tricky course

One of those is Paul Mc Ginley. The non-playing vice captain of England’s victorious Ryder Cup team,Paul is keen on a win at his Indian Open debut. “I’m always desperate for a win but more than that I’m focusing on playing with accuracy,so that rest falls into place,” the European Tour veteran said.

Giving him a tough fight will be two-time PGA tour winner Daniel Chopra,who claims he has some game ‘secrets’ up his sleeve that can help him turnaround his dip in form. “It took me ten years to find this change and its something that will take my game to the next level so the goal here is definitely to win,nothing less than that will salvage the season for me,” Chopra said.

But Chopra is not the only one looking for a change in fortunes here. Though the DGC is Shiv Kapur’s home course,the golfer has never won a tournament here as a professional. Starting Thursday,like a tiger wounded in his own territory,Kapur will not only be eying his maiden course win but also look to add the Indian Open trophy to his achievements — a tournament he has been missing for the last three years.

“I’ve finished second a few times here but never won. I obviously know the golf course and its lines well so if I can putt well… that seems to be the only thing that has been holding me back,” Kapur said.

At the DGC,however,even those unfamiliar with the course can emerge as leaders. And trust Rikard Karlberg,no.3 golfer on the Asian Tour order of merit list to do so.

Early this year,playing at the DGC for the first time,Karlberg piped Kapur to win the SAIL Open showing that the DGC can’t be tamed despite years of practice. Apart from him,Siddikur and Thaworn Wiratchant,ranked 8 and 10 respectively on the merit list have also had a good practice on the Asian Tour and are contenders for the title.

Though Delhi golfer Jyoti Randhawa has been slightly out of touch and also lost his European Tour card this season,the three-time Indian Open champion can never be counted out. Similar to him Anirban Lahiri too has had a rough season but he was tied third last year and may as well will himself to the top here as well.

And while all eyes will be set on Arjun Atwal to pull off a victory here after his recent success,one can never ignore the possibility of a new winner here,specially after Muniyappa’s rise to fame last year.