Sentosa, Singapore, July 28: Indian stars led by S.S.P. Chawrasia will be aiming to preserve their impressive track record on home ground when the inaugural US$300,000 TAKE Solutions Masters gets underway next week.
No international golfer has won in India since 2014 with the home talents enjoying a clean sweep in seven Asian Tour tournaments so far. Chawrasia alone has won three titles including the 2014 Panasonic Open India and Hero Indian Open in 2016 and 2017.
Chawrasia, a six-time Asian Tour winner and currently ranked second on the Order of Merit, will headline the event alongside Shiv Kapur of India, Chikkarangappa S., who won the TAKE Solutions Masters twice on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), Jeev Milkha Singh and Gaganjeet Bhullar.
Sponsored by TAKE Solutions, Chawrasia will lead the home charge in the event which is staged at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) Golf Course in Bengaluru from August 3 to 6, 2017.
“Playing in India in front of the home fans is always a thrill and we know the layouts here well. Also these days Indians are good enough to win anywhere in Asia and I think soon we will see Indians win in Europe and US, too,” said the 39-year-old Chawrasia.
Kapur, who won his second Asian Tour title in April, will also be in the elite line-up after making his third appearance at The Open where he missed the weekend rounds by a single shot.
He believes the experience of playing in the year’s third Major championship will help him in the second half of the season starting at TAKE Solutions Masters.
“You got to take all the positives that you can when you play in a Major,” said Kapur. “I had one bad hole over two days but the learning experience will make me a better golfer in the future. I’m really excited for the second half of the year.”
A strong line-up of players including Malaysia’s Gavin Green, Prayad Marksaeng and Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai will feature in the event.
New Asian Tour champions Todd Sinnott of Australia, Nicholas Fung of Malaysia and Thai duo Rattanon Wannasrichan and Jazz Janewattananond are also in the elite field.
