Indian golfer Jyoti Randhawa will return to action after a gap of almost five months, when he tees up at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship here on Thursday.
Randhawa, the Asian Tour Order of Merit winner in 2002, whose last Asian Tour start was in Thailand in December, broke a bone in his right shin when his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) overturned and landed on his leg while on holiday in India in February.
While Randhawa looks at a good return to action, fellow Indian, Chiragh Kumar, is seeking a Panasonic double, having won the title for maiden win on Asian Tour late last year.
Shiv Kapur will tee up for the first time since his marriage earlier this month, and the field also includes other Indians — Jeev Milkha Singh, Rahil Gangjee, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Himmat Rai.
Randhawa, an eight-time Asian Tour winner, who also won once in Japan in 2003, was excited at getting back to golf after a long break. He played nine holes each on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Chiba Country Club, Umesato course, while preparing for 150 million Yen (approximately $1.27 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
The field will include KT Kim of Korea, Natipong Srithong of Thailand, last year's Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, and flamboyant Japanese star Shingo Katayama.
Randhawa, who broke his shoulder bone in 2002 and then went on to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit that year with a great showing in latter half of the season, said, "I like my bikes and I was on my all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trying to get up a steep slope. I accelerated at the wrong time and it flipped over. I jumped away but it landed on my right foot and broke my right leg. I didn't break the main shin bone but it was the smaller bone. It was an actual break but it wasn't that bad because the bone was still in the same place. I was in a plaster for six weeks and had a lot of rest. It does take some time to get back especially when you are older. I'm a bit stiff and I'm not swinging as good as I wish to but it is mind over matter I guess."
Khalin tied 18th
Cavite (Philippines): Khalin Joshi shot one-over 73 and was lying tied 18th at the end of the first round of the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic, here on Wednesday.
Joshi, whose best on Asian Tour has been second place at the Bangladesh Open last year, is five shots behind the leader, Danny Masrin of Indonesia.
This week Joshi is the only Indian in the field. last week in Manila, Joshi was tied 13th. Indonesia's Danny Masrin battled the gusty conditions before signing for an opening four-under-par 68 to lead by two shots.