There were birdies as well as bogeys for India's 'BigThree' on the international scene in 2004 which also saw the emergence of a newbreed in youngsters like Rahil Gangjee and Ashok Kumar.
Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh maynot have enjoyed great success but they ensured once again that India continuedto stir the world.
The highlight of the year was Randhawa breaking histitle drought -- he was winless since September 2003 -- with a victory in theseason-ending Volvo Masters in Kuala Lumpur.
When the 32-year-old pro sank a 15-foot birdie on thesecond playoff hole, he not only pocketed $99,000 but also leapfrogged to thesecond place in the Asian order of Merit after just seven events, some of whichdid see him come tantalisingly close to the title.
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If the year ended on a bright note, the start was nolet-down either with unheralded rookie Gangjee winning his first Asian Tourtitle after holding his nerve to clinch the inaugural Volkswagen Masters inBeijing, China, in a sudden-death play-off.
The 25-year-old showed remarkable poise at the PineValley Golf Club to emerge victorious after a pulsating final round which saw atleast seven players in with a chance of winning the $300,000 event.
It was indeed a remarkable win for the youngster whohad turned pro in 2001 after establishing himself as the top amateur of thecountry.
Atwal, who clearly overshadowed others in the preceding year after he became thefirst Indian to qualify for the prestigious USPGA Tour, was a shade subduedafter he failed to repeat the feat this time when he finished joint 77th in thegruelling 108-hole annual qualifying tournament, played at La Quinta inCalifornia.
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He would have finished higher but for a disastrousfifth round which undermined his overall card. However, Atwal managed, just by astroke, to finish high enough to get full exemption on the Nationwide Tour, thenext rung to the PGA Tour.
By finishing in the top 150 on the PGA Tour in 2004,Atwal guaranteed himself a minimum of 18 PGA events next year. It also meant heonly had to play in the last of the three stages on the qualifying tournament.
So with the disappointment came the hope that theKolkata pro would make the most of the Nationwide Tour which offers high-qualitycompetition and lucrative prize money besides opening the doors to PGA avenues.
For Jeev, the year was yet another of toil and littlesuccess, raising concerns about his best being behind him.
Jeev, who had made history by qualifying for the USOpen, the toughest major in the world in 2002, struggled clearly before showingsigns of vintage form in the Okinawa Open, which incidentally is the first eventof the 2005 season, to promise of better things to come.
The domestic tour, which got a shot in the arm with theSahara Group extending its support to it through Amby Valley, was dominated by23-year-old Ashok Kumar.
PTI
