Tricky DGC offers the star parade a Royal Challenge

While the professionals enjoyed a relaxed round of golf, mingling with their amateur playing partners all day, the city’s corporate gol...

While the professionals enjoyed a relaxed round of golf, mingling with their amateur playing partners all day, the city’s corporate golfers warmed up and got down to some serious golf as the Royal Challenge Indian Open Pro-Am got underway at the Delhi Golf Course.

However, the professionals were busy erasing minor flaws and preparing for the week ahead as the countdown to the $ 300,000 72-hole stroke play championship began, with the winner pocketing $ 50,000.

From the greens

A ‘model’ event
The Pro-am event of the Royal Challenge turned out to be a glamorous affair with models Tupur Chatterjee, Anjholi Singh and Udita Goswami adding color to competition, even as more serious lady golfers like Simar Dugal, Shruti Khanna, Shalini Malik and Mridula Tandon took the day off to test the lush green fairways before the serious 72-hole stroke play championship gets underway at the DGC.

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Ramu at home
The peacocks who have made the DGC their home, got a scare when a member of their species succumbed to injuries after being hit by a golf ball during the normal course of play, seem to be enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Indian Open too. They are back on the course and, according to Shalini Kahlon, the wife of the Hero Honda Masters champion Harmeet Kahlon, spectators and wildlife enthusiasts can stand by the 17th green and call out to Ramu. The beautiful, proud peacock not only responds, but also resorts to being hand fed by his fan following.

Ecstasy and agony!
The professional golfers’ wives, who take time off to go shopping or sightseeing on Pro-Am days also enjoyed an off day today. However, most of them will be back on the course tomorrow, to brave the heat by taking shelter under the hats and umbrellas and walk the fairways as the real excitement begins.

Samantha Chopra, who usually accompanies Daniel on his visits to India, Clay Dever’s girlfriend Jeannette and Amandeep Johl’s wife Hardavin, Ritika Atwal and Shalini Kahlon will all be there to watch the fairways and experience the ecstasy and agony of golf. — Shona A Singh

The DGC, with it’s intimidating thorny bushes requires good course management and an errant tee shot here can land a player in trouble. The emphasis, therefore, will be on accuracy and some players will just need to pull the driver out of their bags. Most players prefer to use a two-iron or a three-wood off the tee, rather than carry it along and give in to the temptation and risk of trying to hit long drives and find the bushes that guard the fairways instead.

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Arjun Atwal, who hits his drive like an arrow off the tee and demonstrated a perfect shot down the first fairway this morning, is amongst the daring few who will use the driver all week. ‘‘I always keep my driver in the bag and use it just on the par-five first, 10th, 14th and 18th holes,’’ said the 2003 Malaysian Open champion who carded a six-under, 66 today.

The bogies cost him first place as James Kingston and Simon Yates carded the best round of the day, a seven-under, 65.

Jyoti Randhawa will also have a driver in his bag all week. ‘‘I use my driver on the 10th, 14th and 18th holes as it leaves one with a short iron for the approach shot. If a player lays up with his drive then he has a longer second shot,’’ said Jyoti.

Daniel Chopra, who honed his skills playing golf at the DGC, will pull out his driver playing at the course that is amongst his favourite around the world. ‘‘I have traveled all over and the DGC is still amongst my favourite and one that does not need a driver. I will carry a three-wood and one-iron and can hit all the four par-five in two, without a driver — I hit a three-wood seven-iron on the 14th hole today,’’ said the pro who played competitively on every tour in the world.

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Hero Honda Masters 2002 winner Harmeet Kahlon is also confident using his driver, but only on four holes. ‘‘I will carry the driver but plan to use it just on the first, 10th, 14th and 18th holes,’’ said the Chandigarh pro after participating in the pro-am competition this morning.

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