Bilt Open to begin from Nov 5 sans top golfers

New Delhi, Nov 3 : Emerging golfers of the country will make most of the absence of some of the star players, including Jeev Milkha Singh at the Bilt Open, offering a whopping prize money of Rupees one crore for the November 5-8 event.

In to its fourth edition, the Bilt Open will be deprived of star attractions like defending champion Jyoti Randhawa, Jeev and Gaganjeet Bhullar as the trio will be particpating in the World Championships in Shanghai at the same time.

Anirban Lahiri and Himmat Singh Rai, two of the promising golfers in the country will be participating in the event and have their sights set on the title.

Himmat has had a fair success this year, which includes his third-place finish in the Indian Open last month and the Delhi lad also won his maiden professional title at the Haryana Open this year.

''It will be a coveted event and although some of the big names are missing, it still remains a good event to play,'' Himmat said here at the announcement of the Bilt Open today.

''I can't say whether I'll win it or not but yes, I am hoping for a good finish,'' he added.

Four of the major names in the Indian golf will be missing out of the tournament and their absence was very much understandable as - Jeev, Randhawa, C Muniyappa and Bhullar will be vying for a prize money of seven million dollars at Shanghai.

Lahiri on the other hand, was joint second with Jeev in the last edition and is hoping to climb one more ladder this time.

India has had some young golfers coming up at the international stage and are doing extremely well. Lahiri said the signs were good for Indian golf and the youngsters are moving in right direction.

''These are very good times for Indian golf. Gaganjeet, me and Himmat all of us have came from the junior level and now we get to compete against Jeev, Jyoti who are our idols.

''Many years back Jeev and Jyoti did the same things and in years to come the young emerging golfers take the mantle from them,'' said Lahiri.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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