Mukesh eyes season's fifth win

India’s top-ranked golfer Mukesh Kumar will prove to be a major spoke in the wheel of a star studded field when the HT-Pro Golf 2002 commences at the picturesque par-72, 7,343-yard Jaypee Greens golf course in Noida on Tuesday.

Mukesh, looking for his fifth win of the season currently leads the money list, with his earnings in the 2001-02 Hero Honda Golf Tour touching whopping Rs 1.3 million.

Mukesh has had a dream season on the Hero Honda golf Tour this year. The 33-year-old has returned four wins and three runner-up finishes. His triumphs have come in different corners of the country, at the TNGF Open, Chennai, Sher-e-Kashmir Open, Srinagar, Servo Masters, Digboi, and at the Royal Challenge Grand Prix last week at Mumbai. He failed to make it to the top-five on just two occasions in 15 starts.

"I have had a phenomenal season thus far. Every aspect of my game is at its peak," said Mukesh. "The Jaypee Greens golf course is a challenging one. While putting is the key to winning any golf tournament, hitting will play an equally important role this week," he said. "I have two runner-up finishes at HT-Pro Golf events this year, one each at Lucknow and Kolkata. This time round, I want to return a win," he said.

Mukesh was denied a win at Lucknow by rookie golfer Rahil Gangjee, while Indrajit Bhalotia spoiled his party at Kolkata.

Standing between Mukesh and his fifth win of the season will be golfers of the calibre of Gaurav Ghei, Uttam Mundy, Vijay Kumar, Feroz Ali and Indrajit Bhalotia.

"It feels good to be back after a two-week break," said Gaurav Ghei, who took a vacation from the Tour after the Royal Challenge Grand Prix, in Noida.

"I have been working on my game over the past fortnight and feel I am ready to return to competitive golf," said Ghei, who underwent a hernia operation early last year as a result of which he was forced to take a break from the Tour. He made a comeback at the year ending Indian Masters in Delhi.

"The Jaypee Greens Course is playing rally long. While hitting will play a huge part his week, accuracy cannot be compromised on with the kind of water bodies that man the fairways," he said. "Needless to say Mukesh starts as the favourite this week but you cannot write the rest of us off," he concluded.

Two golfers who will be licking their chops in anticipation will be Indrajit Bhalotia and Vijay Kumar. Considered two of the longest hitters on the Tour, they will definitely enjoy an edge over the rest of the field at least off the tee. "This golf course will definitely suit my game," said Indrajit Bhalotia. "However, one cannot get carried away because a badly directed shot can lead directly in to the water bodies," he added.