Arjun Arjun top draw at PGTI event

KOLKATA: All eyes will be on Dubai Open winner Arjun Atwal as he makes his PGTI debut in the McLeod Russel Tour Championship event that gets underway at the Royal Calcutta Golf Course (RCGC) on Thursday. The season-ending meet offers Rs 1.5 crore in prize money — the highest-ever for a domestic event.
Apart from Atwal and three other top pros — SSP Chowrasia, Rahil Gangjee and Gaganjeet Bhullar — who will be feature in the tournament on sponsors' invitation, the field comprises the top 60 players from the Rolex Rankings 2014.
The likes of Om Prakash Chouhan, who leads the rankings, Chikkarangappa, local favourite Shankar Das, Rashid Khan, Mukesh Kumar and Khalin Joshi are expected to give the senior pros a run for their money. The tournament will be a 72-hole stroke-play championship and there will be no cut applied after 36 holes and all players will be guaranteed prize money.
In the absence of defending champion Anirban Lahiri, who is recuperating from an injury, the tournament is sure to throw up a new winner. "It's great to be competing on my home course after 13 years. My family and friends will be coming out to support me and that makes it a special week for me," said Atwal.
Bhullar, who is recovering from an injury, said: "I've recovered about 90 per cent now and the injury is not really troubling me anymore. However, I'm still not hitting the ball as long as I usually do."