Stars ready for Indian tee party

A wry-humoured Colin Montogomerie was followed by a drier Vijay Singh. If Ian Poulter threw a sample of that famous colourful persona around, Adam Scott’s ‘thinking young man’ cap was firmly on.

Defending champion Anton Haig has been grabbing second looks for two days, but smart talk fails him. One adjective stayed common, though. “Fiddly”, said Scott. “Tricky” figured in most other evaluations, and the DLF Golf and Country Club can lay claim to have set the best minds ticking.

Scott was kind enough to explain. “There’s a lot of slope on the fairways and greens, so you have to be very precise with what you’re hitting off the tee. The front nine can be played in many different ways, so there’s a bit of strategy there,” he said. Montgomerie said the gusting wind was going to keep the scores on the higher side. It’s the sun that might turn out to be the bother, however.

Indians in play

It could’ve been the chatter along the way that made throats dry, but getting back after the pro-am rounds, a drink was in demand. The crystal clear sunlight has been making everything look brighter, but the hard winter that was making conditions European at the Delhi Golf Club is long over.

That of course, brings the Indian field into play. The pronunciation is still far from being perfected, but a reference to SSP Chowrasia and his exploits was being made by almost all. The home-grown stars are out in full force again and real momentum among spectators will probably come only with a round-to-remember from one of them. And there’s the bunch of youngsters who have a chance of a lifetime to make a mark.

Montgomerie said he expected to see at least one Indian competing to win, and was generous to admit that that scenario might do wonders for the game. But it’s the last few tournaments to make up those numbers for the Masters qualification and the precious ranking points on offer will not be let pilfered generously.

This way or that, for those watching it’s like never-ending scoops on top of the ice cream cone.

Key groupings:

Arjun Atwal, Peter Senior, Simon Dyson

Colin Montgomerie, Mark Brown, Liang Wen-chong

Vijay Singh, Ian Poulter, Robert Karlsson

Jyoti Randhawa, Graeme McDowell, Lee Sung

Jeev Milkha Singh, Anton Haig, Paul Sheehan

SSP Chowrasia, Adam Scott, Miguel Angel Jimenez

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Adam Scott (Aus, 27)

World Ranking: 5

Career high: World no 3

Won first title in first full season as pro (Alfred Dunhill Championship, 2001)

Widely talked of as Tiger Woods’ likely successor, has been mentored by Greg Norman

Maria Sharapova rated him in her list of top 10 mixed doubles partners

“May be he’ll (Woods) win every week this year, but he normally doesn’t every week, so there are opportunities to beat him.”

Vijay Singh (Fiji, 45 years)

World Ranking: 11

Has won 3 Majors (PGA C’ship 1998, 2004; US Open 2000)

One of the few to leave Tiger Woods behind in the rankings, for 32 weeks in 2004-05)

Was infamously banned from the Asian Tour for two years in 1985-86 for “doctoring scorecard”

“Week in, week out, we have tournaments like this all over the world, so we need to get more over here in India so they can see what golf is all about.”

Colin Montgomerie (Sco, 44)

World Ranking: 54

Scottish legend, had a streak of record 8 straight EPGA order of merit titles (1993-99)

Known as the best player never to have won a Major (has finished second five times)

Has a terrific record of never having lost a

Ryder Cup singles match

“The greatest Ryder Cup moment? My word, we don’t have long enough. We’d run out of battery power here, I’m afraid.”

Ian Poulter (Eng, 32)

World Ranking: 24

Won European Tour event in 2000 after having come through qualifying school

Owns apparel design firm

Is friends with former Arsenal star Denis Bergkamp, goes to home games

Created a furore recently when a magazine quoted him saying he was Tiger Woods’ only rival; he said he’d been misquoted

“I like to dress the way I want on the golf course. It appeals to some people, though the players give me some stick about it. I’m just trying to have some fun along the way.”