Hyderabad: Hyderabad is set for some top class golfing action as 120 players begin their quest to make the cut at the Golconda Masters which tees off at the Hyderabad Golf Club here on Thursday.
The Rs 40 lakh prize money tournament gets its international touch with three Sri Lankans, two South Africans and a Bangladeshi also in fray to bag the top honours at the 18-hole, 6,200-yard par-71 layout near the Golconda fort.
Gaganjeet Bhullar and Chikkarangappa are the top two names that are likely to hold sway. The duo were excited about teeing off at the heritage course set at the foot of the iconic Golconda fort.
“The Hyderabad Golf Club is in great shape and the weather conditions are perfect so we can look forward to an exciting week of golf. I love the layout of this course it’s unique and is unlike most other courses in the country,” Bhullar said.
For Chikkarangappa, it’s an emotional moment. “I’ve played in Hyderabad as a junior, so coming back here after six years as a professional feels good,” he said. Like Gagan, Chikka too was all praise for the course. “The playing conditions here at the Hyderabad Golf Club are brilliant. It is a one-of-its-kind course because of its setting and surroundings. The HGA has done outstanding work in developing this course,” he said.
Speaking about the challenges, Chikka said: “It won’t be easy negotiating those slopes on the greens. The 10th is a very interesting hole since it has an island green. If there is headwind it can be a very tricky hole.” Chikka credited the Professional Golf Tour of India for promoting the sport in the country. “We always relish playing in varying conditions and at different venues, the experience of which prepares us for the international stage,” he said.
