SAIL OPEN RELATED STORIES SAIL Open home page SAIL Open Preview - Six to watch this week Round 1: Bain and Carolan share lead with 66 Round 2: Randhawa moves into share of lead Round 3: Brown blows hot for 67 and lead Round 4: Mark Brown claims maiden victory Final Scores & Prize Money Newest Indian hero Chowrasia back in action Fourth Asian Tour event in India SAILs into view Ghei hopeful of new Indian talent Indian golf is in the fast lane, says Jeev Rapid growth makes golf India's second most favourite sport Full details of Jaypee Greens Noida Asian Tour Order of Merit after the Indonesia Open ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Open: Pain for Choi as Harrington defends Open: Closing 74 gives Liang more major hopes Open: Tough Open makes Lam eye Asian success Open: Angelo Que means to learn and return Open: Late bogies mean early exit for Prayad IGF forms Olympic Committee with eye to 2016 Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Padraig Harrington hungry for more success Michelle Wie to play on PGA Tour again IGF forms 2016 Olympic Committee Greg Norman proud of achievement Ian Poulter impressive with second place Henrik Stenson happy with his best ever finish

Newest Indian hero Chowrasia back in action

Life begins a new cycle for S.S.P Chowrasia, the latest hero in Indian golf, as he returns to action for the first time since his maiden Asian Tour title when he tees up in the US$400,000 SAIL Open at Jaypee Greens starting on Wednesday.

Chowrasia, who stunned a classy field which included South African star Ernie Els at the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters a fortnight ago, has been swamped by media attention and the sheer emotion of such a big win forced him to take a week off.

“I needed time for myself and re-think about my whole career,” said Chowrasia, who arrived in Delhi last night and enjoyed a practice round at the Greg Norman-designed Jaypee Greens earlier today.

“All the celebrations back home in Kolkata was great, but I did manage a little bit of practice.”

Chowrasia, along with three-time Hero Honda Indian Open champion Jyoti Randhawa will spearhead the Indian challenge in the inaugural SAIL Open, which is the third leg of the 2008 Asian Tour season.

The event, which puts SAIL and Jaypee Greens firmly on the international golfing map, is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), which has had great success in 2008. The SAIL Open will raise the number of Asian Tour tournaments in India to four this season.

Chowrasia won the Indian Masters and led three Indians in the top-10 and a week later, as Chowrasia took a break, Jeev Milkha Singh was second with three Indians in the top-10 at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open. Currently, six Indians occupy the top-eight of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

“Indian golf is seeing a big change. We have a whole lot of talented players, who can win on any day,” said Randhawa, who is strongly tipped to contend this week after closing with a 62 for a share of eighth place in Indonesia at the weekend.

“I love playing in India and Jaypee Greens is a great course. I have always enjoyed playing here,” said Randhawa, who in the past has won the BILT Open, the biggest event on domestic PGTI Tour, at the same venue.

The Indian starcast will also include Digviay Singh and Gaurav Ghei, fourth and sixth respectively at the Indian Masters, besides Rahil Gangjee, winner of the 2004 Volkswagen Masters – China.

Seasoned campaigners Amandeep Johl, Harmeet Kahlon, Ashok Kumar and Feroz Ali will also be in the field as will be the youth brigade led by Gurbaaz Mann, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Anirban Lahiri and Ranjit Singh among others.

“This is an exciting time for Indian golf and an event in India offers a great opportunity for Indian players,” added Chowrasia.

The top Asian Tour stars from outside India will include Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, a former Asia No. 1, Mardan Mamat of Singapore and Hendrik Buhrmann of South Africa.

While Thaworn and Mardan have won the Indian Open in the past, Buhrmann won the Amby Valley Asian Masters in 2006. Prayad Marksaeng, Bryan Saltus, Chinnarat Phadungsil, Anthony Kang, Adam Blyth, Thammannoon Srirot will be among the foreign challengers.

Steel Authority of India (SAIL), India's largest integrated steel producer, is making its first foray into international golf.

The venue, Jaypee Greens is one of the finest in India and has been a regular host to some of the biggest events on PGTI Tour. The latest event will unveil the lovely course with world-class facilities on the outskirts of Delhi in Greater NOIDA to the top stars of Asia and enhance it growing reputation as one of the finest courses in South Asia.

February 19, 2008