By Rahul Banerji
For the first time in over ten years, India’s golfers get a chance to play for European status at the Challenge Tour’s inaugural Duncan Taylor Black Bull Challenge in Bangalore from Thursday.
On Wednesday, Black Bull brand ambassador Sir Nick Faldo turned out for a Pro-Am and drew a huge response as did former India cricket star Yuvraj Singh.
“It’s all about creating opportunities and that’s what we’re here for. It’s up to the players to make the most of it. You have to be better than the rest,” the six-time major winner said.
The tournament co-sanctioned with the domestic tour, sees the return of the Challenge Tour to India after Ahmedabad in February 2013 with consecutive $300,000 events, the PGTI said.
The PGTI is also back at the KGA after three years. The field of 156 players including 153 professionals and three amateurs will feature 52 Indian professionals.
Udayan Mane, Khalin Joshi, Yuvraj Singh Sandhu, current PGTI Order of Merit leader Sachin Baisoya and Aman Raj will lead the home charge.
Leading Challenge Tour Irishman John Murphy, Frenchman Ugo Coussaud and Italian Matteo Manassero will look to take on both the home players and the top-class venue.
Khalin Joshi, 2017 Panasonic Open India winner and former PGTI Order of Merit champion, playing at his home course, said, “My recent form has not been good but I’m happy to be back home and playing an event at KGA after over four years.
“I’ve made the most of the opportunity by spending a few days with my coach working on some aspects of my swing.
Inspirational figure
“The course is playing great thanks to all the work put in by the team here at KGA. It’s been very encouraging to have Sir Nick Faldo here to launch the event.
“The Challenge Tour events in India present a terrific opportunity for all of us Indian golfers to prove our mettle in a highly competitive field.”
Olympian Udayan Mane, a former PGTI Order of Merit champion and another golfer with a strong Bengaluru and KGA connection, said, “Even though I’m based in Pune now, I grew up playing at KGA as I learnt and started my golf here with my father and brother.
“So I have a lot of memories from KGA and it does feel like coming back home.
“There’s a huge comfort level playing at KGA as I’ve won a pro event here in the past and also hold the record for the lowest winning total at this course. My caddie is also from here.
“It’s always good when the talent gets circulated like it will this week and on a golf course like KGA which has scoring opportunities for every kind of player. It’s going to be an exciting contest.”
Aman Raj, a winner on the PGTI earlier this month, said, “I’m in a good zone at the moment, having ended a long victory drought recently. I’ve reaped the rewards for hanging in there and being patient.
“It’s always been a pleasure playing here at the KGA. The fairways feel like carpets. I’m really looking forward to competing against the top names from the Challenge Tour.”
Domestic tour members will get to compete in the two Challenge Tour events with much at stake.
Earlier this year, Manu Gandas, earned his card into the DP World Tour, by topping the PGTI Order of Merit. The next three players get a chance to make it to the DP World Tour via the final stage of the Qualifying School.
With 20 top players from the Challenge Tour getting into the DP World Tour, the two Bangalore events assume a lot of importance for Indian golf.
High expectations
Talented rookie Aryan Roopa Anand, who is playing in his hometown, said, “My expectations are high coming into the week but I am just going to focus on the little things and prepare the best I can.
“I turned professional earlier this year after becoming the number one amateur in the country. This did a lot for my confidence, and I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my career on the Tata Steel PGTI.
“Golf in India is growing in popularity in recent years and Karnataka Golf Association is such a busy golf course throughout the year,” he said.
“I grew up playing at this golf course and everyone here has seen my journey through to the professional ranks. The support is going to be huge and I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s great to have Indian players performing all over the world and now we have role models such as Shubhankar Sharma on the DP World Tour and Arjun Atwal, who became the first Indian winner on the PGA Tour.”
Also read: Faldo presence towers over Black Bull Challenge launch at KGA
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