India’s star Golfer Anirban Lahiri may not be making his presence felt at the Panasonic Open 2017 but a bevy of other Indian Golf stars are all set to descend and putt away to glory at the much-awaited event of the year.

 

Five of the six past winners of the 7th Panasonic Open, which tees off at the Delhi Golf club on Thursday, have come home from shores. And given the strength of the local challenge, it could well be yet another Indian in the winner’s circle come Sunday.

 

 

 

         India's Shiv Kapur, Mukesh Kumar, Paul Peterson and Ajeetesh Sandhu pose with the Panasonic Open trophy

 

 

Four past champions — only Anirban Lahiri is missing — and virtually every top Indian pro is in the mix at the $400,000 event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the PGTI.

 

Leading the way is SSP Chawrasia, who successfully defended his Hero Indian Open earlier this year, followed by Shiv Kapur, who won the Yeangder Heritage, Ajeetesh Sandhu, winner at the Yeangder TPC and Gaganjeet Bhullar at the Macao Open.

 

Said Kapur in a press conference, “I think the only thing that has eluded me at the DGC is a title on the Asian Tour. I know the course well and this is my home course. I know every blade of grass, in a manner of speaking. This time I’m going with a bit of reverse psychology, where I’m not the favourite and everyone else is coming in with a lot of form.”

 

 

                                          SSP Chawrasia recently participated in the WGC HSBC Champions 

 

Kapur, who also had a tied second finish at the Thailand Open, added, “I haven’t played a lot of Golf lately and hopefully, I can surprise everyone.

 

“I have played just 14 holes in the last month before this week. So, this week I’ll play as if I’m going to play out there with my buddies, hit the same clubs off the tee. For me, it’s going to be fun Golf and hopefully, that turns out to be my winning formula.”

 

Defending champion Mukesh Kumar, who became the oldest winner ever on the Asian Tour in 2016 was keen to push his run along. “I have won a lot of tournaments on the Indian Tour, but I really wanted to win on the Asian Tour as well.

 

“I was really elated to win the Panasonic Open India last year. It felt really special and I couldn’t believe it myself. I had waited a long time for this. This time too, my game is shaping up well. I need to work on my putting and my aim would be retaining my trophy.”

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

• At the age of 51 years and 126 days, Kumar won his first Asian Tour title and became the oldest winner on Tour at the 2016 Panasonic Open India.
• Kumar had led from start to finish at the 2016 Panasonic Open India, which was reduced to 54 holes due to fog disruptions.
• Since turning professional 33 years ago, Kumar has won over 120 titles on his domestic circuit.
• Kapur ended an 11-year and four months wait for a second Asian Tour title at the 2017 Yeangder Heritage in Chinese Taipei earlier in April.
• Kapur went on to notch a joint runner-up finish at the Thailand Open one month later. He sits in 18th place on the current Order of Merit.
• Peterson enjoyed a tied-eighth finish at the Indonesia Open last week.
• The 29-year-old Peterson is making his debut appearance at the Panasonic Open India this week.
• The left-handed Peterson came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2014. He claimed his first title on the European Tour at the 2016 D+D REAL Czech Masters.
• Sandhu is enjoying his career best season so far on the Asian Tour in 2017. The 29-year-old Sandhu claimed his breakthrough win in Chinese Taipei earlier this month before going on to win on the Japan Challenge Tour the week after. He followed up his back-to-back wins with a tied-second finish in Macao a fortnight ago.
• Sandhu turned professional in 2008. He is currently placed 23rd on the Order of Merit.