Asia rising in world order after month of victories
SINGAPORE: Arjun Atwal believes that the Asian Tour's rising stature is now on full display following three out of a possible four victories against Europe's big guns in the space of a month.
The US-based Indian star claimed a seventh career Asian Tour triumph with a tense playoff victory over defending champion Peter Hedblom of Sweden at the Maybank Malaysian Open on Sunday.
"Absolutely. You see how the Asian Tour has come about. I started here in 1995 and it was tough for the first few years for Asians to win big events but now, it happens every year. It's great," he said.
Compatriot S.S.P. Chowrasia got the ball rolling with a shock victory at the Indian Masters, holding off golfers like Ernie Els and Thomas Bjorn.
Then Asian Tour regular Mark Brown of New Zealand was triumphant at the Johnnie Walker Classic, also in India, where he left world-class players such as Adam Scott and Vijay Singh in his wake.
India's Jeev Milkha Singh narrowly missed out on making it a clean sweep for the Asian Tour when he agonizingly finished second in the Indonesia Open, another event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
Atwal, who has risen to third place on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit, will now focus on regaining his USPGA Tour card via the secondary circuit, the Nationwide Tour.
But he said he will forever be indebted to the Asian Tour, which shaped his fledgling career during the 1990s.
"The Asian Tour has helped me immensely. I went to my first Qualifying School in 1995 to learn how to make cuts, then to be in contention and finally win, all those I have learned on the Asian Tour," said Atwal.
"Those were the best years of my life. I still say it. I had so much fun and everyone are so close. You still see the guys out here, it's great."
Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han hailed Atwal's return to form.
"It caps a memorable past five weeks for the Asian Tour as three of our members have achieved victories against many of Europe's top players," he said.
"Arjun's triumph cements the fact that the standard of play on the Asian Tour is really strong. The wonderful performances over the past few weeks will serve to strengthen the Asian Tour's growing presence in world golf."
The Asian Tour heads to South Korea this week for the inaugural Ballantine's Championship at Pinx Golf Club on Jeju island. The $2.9 million event is another European Tour co-sanctioned event.
AFP
(China Daily 03/12/2008 page23)
