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Thaworn set for defence of Hero Honda Indian Open

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant defends his Hero Honda Indian Open crown this week at Delhi Golf Club and has quickly formulated a game plan after seeing his first tee shot with his driver disappear into the trees in today’s practice round.

“I’ll be using irons and fairway woods off the tee again this year,” said the Thai golfer, whose victory in India last year was one of four wins that helped him win the Order of Merit title for the first time.

Today’s errant drive was no cause for alarm as last year Thaworn missed just four fairways in four rounds, rarely using his driver and regularly producing his trademark short game wizardry.

The Thai star, untouchable at the top of the leader board after the second round, carded a two-under-par 70 to win by two strokes from India’s Gaurav Ghei. He finished the tournament on 16-under-par 272.

Thaworn has not tasted victory this year but says he has been comfortable with his game.

“After a great year last season a lot of doors opened for me so I have been traveling a lot which is part of the reason I have not won. It’s been quite tiring and when I have been in position to do well this year I have just run out of gas,” said Thaworn.

While Thaworn will attempt to chart his way around the course in the same fashion he did last year, the Thai star says he will be hindered by the damper conditions.

“The course has been watered a lot which means there is not as much run on the ball. This will really favour the bigger hitters, the players who can hit a long way with their irons off the tee,” said Thaworn.

Thaworn is presently in 12th place on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit with earnings of US$205,872 and five top 10 finishes. Last year his total overall winnings of US$510,123 was a single season earnings record on the Asian Tour.

A strong field has assembled for what is the 43rd staging of India’s national Open including Englishman Simon Dyson, Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland and Scotland’s Andrew Coltart.

The local challenge will be led by Jyoti Randhawa, winner of this event in 2000, Shiv Kapur, and Gaurav Ghei – the recent victor of the Mercuries Masters and second in this event last year.

In special treat for the tournament, England cricket heroes Andrew Strauss, Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood and James Anderson will move from the wicket to the fairway when they compete in the Pro Am tomorrow.

The talented quartet are taking time out from their ICC Champions Trophy. The cricketers are all keen golfers and will no doubt enjoy competing alongside some of the cream of the region’s professionals.

“This year’s Pro Am will be made extra special by the attendance of Strauss, Harmison, Collingwood and Anderson. We look forward to welcoming them to the Hero Honda Indian Open, an event that is the jewel in the crown of Indian professional golf,” said Pawan Munjal, Managing Director and CEO, Hero Honda Motors.

“Hero Honda has strong ties with cricket and on Wednesday in the Pro Am, Hero Honda’s relationship with sport in this country will truly be showcased,” added Munjal.

The Pro Am tees off at 8am and one of the marquee groups will feature Strauss, Munjal, Coltart and Seamus O’Brien, President, World Sport Group, the tournament’s promoter.

England play Australia in the second match of their ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday and so batsmen Strauss and Collingwood will obviously be hoping to hone their ball striking skills on the tight fairways of Delhi Golf Club.


October 17, 2006