Poulter hails Delhi stop

IAN POULTER feels there has never been a better time for the European Tour to spread its wings in India, as the subcontinent hosts its second Tour event in under a month this weekend.

Just three weeks after making its inaugural stop in the sub-continent at the co-sanctioned Indian Masters at Delhi Golf Club, the Tour has returned for the Johnnie Walker Classic, a tri-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

SSP Chowrasia’s victory at the Indian Masters has raised local interest in the £1.25 million tournament, which is being held at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, just south of the Indian capital, and Poulter is looking forward to the experience.

“We all know how many Indian golfers are coming onto the scene now and they’re breaking into the top 100 in the world, so it’s a great time to have a couple of events over here,” said the current world number 24.

“The golf courses are tough and it’s great for the exposure (of the game in India). It’s great for European Tour golf and I think it’s very good to be coming out to new venues like this and to test out the market here.”

Poulter’s view was echoed by the other big names that are competing this week at the testing, 7,156-yard par 72 Arnold Palmer-designed course.

“You need more tournaments like this to actually give an opportunity for the young golfers to see how golf really is,” said world number 11 Vijay Singh.

Colin Montgomerie also lavished praise on the Indian players.

“They have more opportunity now to play the game, and they are taking the opportunity and working hard at it and see the rewards available to them,” said the Scot. “I believe that there will be at least one Indian competing here, and I mean competing to win.”

Defending champion Anton Haig believes a good short game could be the key to victory this week. “The back nine is quite tricky but overall I like what I have seen,” said the South African.