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ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES
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Johl eyes Aamby Valley for maiden title
 India's
Amandeep Johl heads into this week's US$400,000 Aamby Valley Asian
Masters eyeing victory in the inaugural event which he helped create.
The 37-year-old Johl is yearning for a maiden Asian Tour title
and backed with some impressive form this season, the Indian is
tipped to contend at the impressive Aamby Valley Golf Club.
The Chandigarh-based Johl is also hoping to take a page out from
his friend Jeev Milkha Singh's book, with the latter ending a seven-year
drought with victory at the Volvo China Open last month which shot
him to the top of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit.
"I've been playing quite well. I've changed my mindset, keeping
away from technique," said Johl. "You know, I've worked
on my technique for so many years that this year, I said that was
it. I'm just working on my rhythm and my approach to a golf course
and tournament.
"Jeev and I have been sharing pretty similar thoughts. We
are both on the same mental make-up and we came to a conclusion
that it's all in the mind. We realised that you have to be relaxed
when playing. If things go wrong, it doesn't matter. Let's just
enjoy the game. The family won't stop loving you," added Johl.
It will be especially sweet if Johl pulls through at the par 72,
7,087 yards Aamby Valley course as he was amongst the brains behind
the event's inception. Together with his good friend and former
Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, who had a big hand with the course
design, they convinced Sahara India Pariwar, the owners of this
magnificent facility, to sponsor an Asian Tour event.
"We dreamt of staging this tournament nearly a year ago and
it has become a reality. I believe it can become a premier event
in Asia, and live up to its name as the Aamby Valley Asian Masters.
"I hope to be in contention this week. I've finished second
in Pakistan and third in Korea two weeks ago and the confidence
is up. I'm looking forward to playing on this wonderful golf course,"
said Johl, currently 17th on the UBS Order of Merit.
Tour officials have left the rough to grow this week, especially
around the greens and making precision iron play a premium. Johl
feels that this will lead the best player to emerge triumphant at
Aamby Valley.
"You have to be on the fairway. The rough is up. We took Seemanto
Roy (of Sahara India Pariwar) to the Singapore Open last year and
he took a cue from that tough set-up. The player who plays exceptional
golf will win."
With straight hitting being crucial, it could well play into Terry
Pilkadaris' liking as he is a solid driver of the ball. A three-time
winner in Asia, the man from Melbourne has a knack of winning inaugural
events, winning the Crowne Plaza Open, Shanghai in 2004 and 2005
Brunei Open, both new events then.
The Aussie has also enjoyed the spotlight in recent times, first
playing with teenage phenom Michelle Wie for two rounds at the SK
Telecom Open in Korea last week and then being picked to play with
former Miss World, Diana Hayden in today's Pro-am at Aamby Valley.
"I'm a lucky man," smiled Pilkadaris when told that he
was playing with the beauty queen. "It was nice to play with
Michelle last week and she's very impressive. I was disappointed
with last week's finish but with the rough being up here, driving
accuracy is paramount and I'm looking forward to putting in a good
performance."
Designed by PGA Design Consultants, with Dev, who is also a board
member on the Asian Tour, having a direct hand in the development,
the Aamby Valley Golf Club was opened for play in 2003.
The Aamby Valley City spreads over 10,000 acres of land and is
nestled in the cradle of nature amidst the picturesque hills of
the Sahayadri range. It is a city that spells success, aspiration
and above all, world-class lifestyle, within direct access from
Mumbai.
May 9, 2006
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