Having returned to the winner's circle at the end of last year after a frustrating four-year title drought, Arjun Atwal seems high on confidence ahead of the 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open here.
Two-time champion at the Malaysian Open, the 41-year-old Atwal is gung-ho about being back at a place, which has such fond memories.
"I won in 2003 and 2008 on two different venues but it is always fun coming back to Kuala Lumpur. People in Malaysia are always very hospitable," Atwal, marking his 20th year as a professional, said. "The 2003 win was really important because I ended up winning the Order of Merit."
The Malaysian Open boasts of a world-class field, which includes former World No. 1 Lee Westwood, the defending champion, and former US Open winner, Graeme McDowell, besides three-time Asian No. 1, Thongchai Jaidee, two-time Asian No. 1 Jeev Milkha Singh and a whole lot of other stars, including Anirban Lahiri, the highest ranked Indian in the world and last year's No. 2 on Asian Tour.
Besides Atwal, Lahiri and Jeev, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, Rashid Khan, SSP Chowrasia, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Rahil Gangjee make it a total of nine Indians in the field for the USD 3 million event, co-sanctioned by Asia and Europe.
The Malaysian Open marks the start of the Asian Tour season, which will continue with the Thailand Classic next week and then the Hero Indian Open, another event Atwal has won in the past.
Talking about the golf course, Atwal said: "The golf course is playing soft. The fairways are soft and the greens are firm. It is a funny combination so I think it will be an interesting week. I just had a one-month break after my win in Dubai. I took two weeks without touching my clubs. I had a seven-week row run last year and that's a lot for my age!"
Speaking of the relief of having won in Dubai at the end of last year, he said, "It is definitely a relief where I don't have to ask for a sponsors invite. It is better for me in terms of scheduling. It is a good way to make my schedule.
"At one stage (about a year or so before the win) I was at a point where I didn't think I would play golf again because of my injuries. It was tough for me to walk at a certain point. To get back from that stage to win a tournament, is probably the biggest in my life. I give it more importance to my PGA Tour win.
