Golfer Khalin banks on home course to win Take Solutions Masters

Indian golfer Khalin Joshi is determined to win his first title on the Asian Tour on home soil when he competes at the $350,000 Take Solutions Masters next month.

Khalin has unfinished business in the event after being pipped to the title by Poom Saksansin of Thailand at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) Golf Course last year.

The 25-year-old admits that he has added pressure playing on home soil but he hopes to learn from his past experience when he tees off in the event being played from August 9 to 12.

"I was born and brought up on the golf course. I've been playing golf at that course since I was four years old. I have a lot of good memories from the past. I will go out there and try to put myself in contention. There's more pressure playing at home because people have more expectations from you," Khalin was quoted as saying by an Asian Tour release on Friday.

Khalin will be joined by defending champion Poom and S.S.P. Chawrasia and Chiragh Kumar.

Chikkarangappa S, who won this event twice on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) will also be there along with Ajeetesh Sandhu, who finished third last year.

Despite losing the title last year, Khalin said the result helped him secure full playing rights on the 2018 Asian Tour season.

Ranked 16th in the current standings, Joshi will face a different scenario this year after securing playing rights for next season thanks largely to a tied fifth result at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia.

"This event was a game changer for me. Obviously, I really wanted to win it but that result got me a few invites at the end of the year. That helped me in the re-rank. I will give this event a lot of credit for helping me keep my card (last season)," said Khalin.

"For me this is like a home tournament because it is my home golf course and sponsored by a home company. I had a good performance last year but came up short. I hope to come out victorious at the end of the tournament this year."

--IANS

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