New Delhi: Home favourites Anirban Lahiri and Digvijay Singh return to the scene of their famous victories, determined to follow up on their successes when the $300,000 Panasonic Open India gets underway at the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday.
The Panasonic Open India was where Lahiri and Singh earned their career breakthroughs, Lahiri winning his maiden title at the inaugural edition in 2011 and Singh emerging victorious last year.
The Delhi Golf Club was once regarded as a bane for Lahiri but he showed that he has truly conquered his demons by winning all three of his Asian Tour titles at the venerable course.
"Obviously playing at Delhi Golf Club is special to me as I've won thrice here. This is my fifth tournament in a roll and my match fitness is there. Physically and mentally I'm ready," said the 25-year-old.
"I've got more and more comfortable on this course and I seemed to have found my way around here. The key is also to stay out of the bushes and hit it onto the fairways at this golf course," said Lahiri.
Since making his debut on the Asian Tour in 2008, Lahiri has been regarded as the next generation of players from India to lead golf in the country to greater heights.
Meanwhile, Singh is looking forward to continue his winning run in a tournament which has rejuvenated his career. Having gone without a win in the last 12 years since making his Tour debut, Singh was in total control of his game last year, especially with his putting where he needed only 1.47 putts per green in regulation, ranking him first in the category then.
"This golf course has been really kind to me and I hope that it'll be even kinder this week. The way I played those last six holes was an injection of confidence last year and I would like to replicate the same feeling again. Consistency is what I'm looking for this week," said the 41-year-old.
Singh is ready to face the stiff challenge from the strong field that features no fewer than 14 tournament winners, who have a total of over 30 titles between themselves. Players from 19 nations will participate in the tourney, making it a truly cosmopolitan field.
The top-three players at the Panasonic Open India will be extended invitations to the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Osaka, Japan in September.
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