Golfer Bhullar targets repeat Tournament Players Championship win

Gaganjeet Bhullar

Taipei - Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar is determined to pull off a repeat victory at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (YPC) next week after receiving one of India’s highest sporting accolades.

The talented Indian received a huge confidence boost ahead of his campaign for the second half of the Asian Tour when he picked up the Arjuna Award, which recognises outstanding achievements by an Indian sportsman last week.

“It is exciting and a great achievement to be able to receive the Arjuna Award at such a young age. I’m very proud,” said the 25-year-old, who joined compatriot golfers Jeev Milkha Singh, Shiv Kapur, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal as recipients of the award.

Bhullar will now aim for a successful title defence at the $500,000 TPC at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club from Sep 12-15. His victory last year sparked a sensational run of form on the Asian Tour where he went on to win the Macau Open for his second title in 2012 and ended the year in fifth position on the Order of Merit for his career’s best finish.

“TPC gave me a lot of confidence. Before that, I was giving 100 percent but the results were not showing. That week, I realised my game was coming back and I just needed to get into contention and get a victory under my belt, which I did. I was hitting the ball so good and I played well on the par fives. I was focussed, calm and relaxed. I just told myself to give it whatever I could and not hold back,” Bhullar said.

Bhullar, currently second on the Order of Merit, has been working hard on his fitness and hopes the extra training will push him towards success.

“Whenever I get the opportunity I will try to improve my fitness which is one of the reasons to stay healthy and injury free. After a successful 2012, you set yourself more goals and expectations. It is not pressure but more motivation.”

TPC will see a reunion between Bhullar and Lu Wei-chih, the 2011 champion, who returns to action after taking a year’s sabbatical to recover from a brain tumour surgery.

“It was quite an emotional moment (after finding out about Lu). I met him last year and he said he was feeling good. He is a close friend and I’m glad he is back. I’m sure it won’t take him long to be winning tournaments again,” said Bhullar.