Randhawa eyeing for his third at Indian Open

Oct 11: Defending champion Jyoti Randhawa will be putting all his effort when he tees off at the 44th Hero Honda Indian open starting from today at the Delhi Golf Club. Randhawa is eyeing for his third title after capturing three out of three at the PGTI Tour last season.

Two-time winner Randhawa, however, is not in hurry to get his third and to become first player since Australian Peter Thompson to complete its 'trio' in the $500,000 championship.

When asked about the milestone, he said, "Thanks for putting the pressure on me. But I'm not thinking about that," he continues. "I'll get my third in the next 10 years. I'll just go and play my game."

The Delhi Golf Club has been stretched beyond the 7000-yard mark and will be played on a course that has been extended by 126 yards. The length of the course is now 7,014 with three holes having modified yardages.

Randhawa sensed that things would be a little difficult this time. “The tees have been pushed back, which makes the course longer and tougher. I think the key will be not to make too many errors.”

But for this time Randhawa, wanting the title, for a different reason. “I want to win it and dedicate it to my new-born son Zoravar,” he said merrily.

“When you finish your day it is a great feeling to go home and meet somebody new who is yours,” said the six-time winner on the Asian Tour. “When my son grows up, I can tell him how I won it.”

Many would not go against Randhawa’s dreams, as his equivalent and another in the title hunt Jeev Milkha Singh says he has his money on Jyoti as well.

When asked to Randhawa about his winner, he replied, “I think I will put my money on him, actually. It is great to see him back playing here for the first time since his great season last year.”

But this Indian Open is not between Randhawa and Jeev only, as the 26 winners on the Asian Tour are in the fray for the coveted title in the next four days at the DGC. Also teeing up along with them will be India’s Gaurav Ghei, Ashok Kumar, Mukesh Kumar and SSP Chowrasia, China’s Lu Wen-the, 2005 Winner Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat who won in 2004. Australian Peter Senior is also competing on sponsor’s invitation.