![\"VMO-Wed-Gaganjeet-Bhullar\"](\"images\/golf\/VMO-Wed-Gaganjeet-Bhullar.jpg\")
Macau: Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar is relishing his title defence at the Venetian Macau Open starting on Thursday, labeling the US$800,000 event as one of the biggest on the Asian Tour.<\/p>\nMacau: Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar is relishing his title defence at the Venetian Macau Open starting on Thursday, labeling the US$800,000 event as one of the biggest on the Asian Tour.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old, currently third on the Order of Merit, will face a stellar field at the spectacular Macau Golf and Country Club which includes four-time Major champion Ernie Els and six former Merit champions including countrymen Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh.<\/p>\n
Last year, the powerful Indian completed a commanding wire-to-wire triumph and called the victory as one of the best of his career which includes three other Asian Tour victories.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMacau is one of my favourite courses in Asia. When I played in the practice round yesterday, it kind of triggered the memories from last year. I remembered what I did on the 72nd hole (which he birdied). It was one of the weeks where I\u2019m not going to forget in my life,\u201d said Bhullar.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis tournament is one of the biggest events on the Asian Tour. I\u2019m feeling good and I\u2019m striking the ball good. Just had a bit of ups and downs recently which is part of the game. I\u2019m enjoying myself and I\u2019m in a good frame of mind. Anything is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bhullar is hoping to play his way into a pairing with crowd-puller Els over the weekend. \u201cThat\u2019s the goal. He inspires the next generation of Asian players to move onto the next level and make it big. With him around, he\u2019s the one to look out for,\u201d said the Indian.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my sixth visit to Macau and over the past four to five years, the course has been improving every year. Last year, the greens were running at about 10 on the stimpmeter and this week, it\u2019s running around 12 which is one of the fastest on the tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis golf course and the event have matured a lot, not just from a commercial point of view but the potential point of view as well. There is a lot of sponsorship involved which is great. This tournament is one of the biggest on the Asian Tour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis field is one of the strongest fields ever in the Venetian Macau Open history. I\u2019m feeling good and I\u2019m striking the ball good. Just had a bit of ups and downs recently which is part of the game. I\u2019m enjoying myself and I\u2019m in a good frame of mind. Anything is possible. Definitely I want to go out there and have a good week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bhullar recalled last year\u2019s triumph with fondness. \u201cLast year, it was a real battle of emotions, especially over the last few holes. After winning here, my outlook and ambitions changed. It gave me the push that I needed in my career. After that win, I\u2019m feeling secure in my life. A lot of good things are happening and I\u2019ll try to win this tournament again this year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Jointly organised by Macau Sport Development Board of Macau SAR Government (MSDB) and Golf Association of Macau, the tournament is sanctioned by the latter and the Asian Tour, and promoted by IMG. Following a successful foray into the world of golf last year, The Venetian\u00ae Macao-Resort has returned as title sponsor of the event for a second successive year.<\/p>\n
The Venetian Macau Open will once again be a free entry event for golf fans from around the world to enjoy live world class professional golf in one of the best loved destinations for leisure and business travel in Asia.<\/p>\n
Since its inauguration in 1998, the tournament has been graced by the presence of some of the best golfers the world has ever seen, including Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington, Fred Couples, Ian Woosnam and Mark O\u2019Meara. This year\u2019s event boasts a total prize fund of US$800,000, an increase of 6.7% compared to last year.<\/p>\n
Sponsors joining The Venetian\u00ae Macao in support of the tournament include Rolex, Srixon, Air Macau, Blue Girl and Bonaqua, as well as first time sponsors Lamborghini, Maui Jim, Subway, Hytera, Twinwoods Wine and Hong Kong Descente, which carries both the Le Coq Sportif Golf Collection and Munsingwear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Macau: Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar is relishing his title defence at the Venetian Macau Open starting on Thursday, labeling the US$800,000 event as one of the biggest on the Asian Tour.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old, currently third on the Order of Merit, will face a stellar field at the spectacular Macau Golf and Country Club which includes four-time Major champion Ernie Els and six former Merit champions including countrymen Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh.<\/p>\n
Last year, the powerful Indian completed a commanding wire-to-wire triumph and called the victory as one of the best of his career which includes three other Asian Tour victories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-latest"],"yoast_head":"\n