Americans still don't know if there is golf in India, says Atwal

NEW DELHI, February 5: The countdown has already begun for the inaugural $2.5 million European Tour event, the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters Challenge to tee off at the Delhi Golf Club on February 7. The showpiece event will witness a strong Indian contingent fighting it out against an international line-up on Indian soil.
For the first time ever, world number four Ernie Els and a strong cast from Europe will take on to the golfing greens of India pitting against the favourite Indian quartet of Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Shiv Kapur.For Randhawa, the week's tournament could be a cakewalk as the 35-year-old has won four times at this venue, his recent feat coming at the Indian Open in 2007. At the par 72 Delhi Golf Club, Kapur will be the local hot favourite. And with a good showing at the Dubai greens last week, Kapur will be hoping to give his competitors a run for their money.
At the 2002 Singapore Masters, Atwal became the first Indian golfer to win on the European Tour International Schedule. And this time around the ace Indian golfer would be hoping to make it bigger and better for himself.
"I had three months off, so I practiced really hard and worked on my game and it's pretty good. I played one tournament on the Nationwide Tour in Panama, and tied second at the finish so getting the right step two weeks ago."
Jeev, who recently finished the Dubai desert Classic tied 19th, hopes to continue his good run at the inaugural European Tour event on a demanding golf course.
"I have been playing really well. I think it all comes down to putting for the four days. I'm striking the ball really well. I'm really confident with my striking. Hopefully, it's a good putting week."
"It's a very demanding golf course. You have to be very patient on this golf course. You have got to plan a lot of golf shots, especially off the tee, and you can't get too aggressive. The main thing I find on this golf course is that you have to keep the ball in play off the tee. If we can do that, everything after that I think is quite simple," adds Jeev.
While Jeev believes playing on the home turf will definitely be an advantage for the Indian contingent, Atwal holds a different opinion because of some changes made to the golf course.
Jeev says, "Although it is not my home course, I have played here quite a bit. But I think it does give an advantage because we've played so much and know the course well."
"If they haven't made all those changes it would be a huge advantage but I think it's pretty fair playing field right now. I played it for the first time with the changes yesterday, and I thought, this golf course is a way different from when we played it on the Asian Tour events. I don't think there's really much advantage for the Indians, except for may be the greens because growing up on these greens, you learn most of the lines on the greens," says Atwal.
However, the two Indian pros shared the same opinion about golf in India reaching new heights, with world's top guns taking part on Indian soil.
Atwal says, "With the help of media covering it so well, I think there is going to be more awareness of professional golf in India. Having Ernie and later Vijay Singh and Adam Scott participating in the Johnnie Walker is going to be good for golfing in India."
"The European Tour has a lot of depth, a lot of good players. I think anybody can win this week. A lot of things can happen, especially on Sunday the way the course is. It's anybody's game, because there's a lot of depth," says Jeev, currently ranked 91st in the world.
Despite some biggies being credited for pushing the boundaries for Indian golf on world map, Atwal, a resident of Florida, says that for Americans 'Golf in India' is still a big question mark.
"They don't know much about it. I played for four years and they still don't know if there is golf in India. There are a few guys who know Jeev and Jyoti, because they have obviously done well in the last few years. But apart from that, they still ask me the same old questions of how many golf courses there are in India and where did I learn to play. When I tell them about Royal Calcutta, which is older than any course in India, they are shocked," says Atwal.
"That's why these events are great. We need events to help change that," adds the 34-year-old.
In a sizzling star-cast contest, studded with top golfers of the world, the home crowd will be hoping for an Indian to win the tourney and creating history.
As Jeev puts it, "If an Indian wins, it will be an icing on the cake, that's the way I would see it." And his fellow golfer Atwal sharing the same opinion says, "I hope it's an Indian." Laughs and adds on, "I hope it's me winning the European Tour on home soil."