![\"BANK-BRI-Indonesia-Open\"](\"images\/golf\/BANK-BRI-Indonesia-Open.jpg\")
Jakarta: It will be a case of \u2018cast off and gloves on\u2019 for Gaganjeet Bhullar of India when he defends his title at the BANK BRI Indonesia Open which gets underway on Thursday.<\/p>\nJakarta: It will be a case of \u2018cast off and gloves on\u2019 for Gaganjeet Bhullar of India when he defends his title at the BANK BRI Indonesia Open which gets underway on Thursday.<\/p>\n
After tearing a ligament in his left wrist in September, Bhullar was in a cast for 21 days and will make a welcome return to the US$750,000 Asian Tour event after being side lined for nearly two months.<\/p>\n
Bhullar will be joined by three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who is playing in Indonesia for the first time in his career, six-time Asian Tour champion Scott Hend of Australia and local favourite George Gandranata at the Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk course.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a frustrating time sitting at home and doing nothing. I did a lot of physiotherapy and acupressure therapy to recover. Now I can hit my driver and three wood without any restrictions,\u201d said the 26-year-old Bhullar.<\/p>\n
The injury has kept him away from playing regularly but he is excited to return to Indonesia, a country where he won his first Asian Tour tournament in 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe feeling is quite different because I\u2019m one of those guys who love to play in a lot of tournaments. I think the last two years I\u2019ve played close to 30 or 35 tournaments a year. It is quite a challenging time for me but Indonesia is close to my heart. I had a lot of good finishes here I\u2019m looking forward to play some good golf again,\u201d said Bhullar.<\/p>\n
Harrington, whose last win was at the 2012 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, has sorted his putting issues but reckons he needs to \u2018get his head in the right place\u2019 to contend for the BANK BRI Indonesia Open title.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key for me is to get my head in the right place this week. My putting has come around so I have to play more golf now to give myself an opportunity. I\u2019ll be more focussed on my mental game more than anything else this week,\u201d said the 43-year-old Irishman.<\/p>\n
Harrington praised the development of golf in the region, saying the young Asian golfers have a bright future ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most interesting things coming over to the Asian Tour is how it has developed since 1997. When I first came out to Asia, the really good players tend to come from a caddy background with unique golf swings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe young Asian players that I see now are coached and they have beautiful golf swings and strike the ball really well. I think if you merge a really good ball striker and someone with a strong and good character, you will have a world champion who will win many Major tournaments,\u201d Harrington explained.<\/p>\n
After missing only two cuts in 11 Asian Tour appearances this season, home favourite Gandranata is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Kasiadi, who is the only local player to win the Indonesia Open title in 1989.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe game of golf in Indonesia is growing and a lot of kids are playing golf at a higher level. Hopefully I can show and be a good example to them this week. I will attack the course according to my plan and skills,\u201d said Gandranata, who won four titles on the local circuit this year.<\/p>\n
Big-hitting Hend secured his first Asian Tour title at the Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk course in 2008 before going on to win five other Asian Tour events. However, a back injury which he sustained last week might scupper his chances of lifting the title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have fond memories on this golf course and I enjoy coming to Indonesia. I have to get over my back injury. There\u2019s a lot of stiff competition this week and obviously Gaganjeet has some fond memories on this golf course as well. Let\u2019s see what happens,\u201d said Hend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jakarta: It will be a case of \u2018cast off and gloves on\u2019 for Gaganjeet Bhullar of India when he defends his title at the BANK BRI Indonesia Open which gets underway on Thursday.<\/p>\n
After tearing a ligament in his left wrist in September, Bhullar was in a cast for 21 days and will make a welcome return to the US$750,000 Asian Tour event after being side lined for nearly two months.<\/p>\n
Bhullar will be joined by three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who is playing in Indonesia for the first time in his career, six-time Asian Tour champion Scott Hend of Australia and local favourite George Gandranata at the Damai Indah Golf, Pantai Indah Kapuk course.<\/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":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-golf-golf"],"yoast_head":"\n