Chennai team starts favourites at Louis Philippe Cup

Led by two-time European Tour winner SSP Chowrasia, TAKE Chennai team will start as favourites when the Rs 1.2 Crore Louis Philippe Cup golf tournament gets underway on Thursday.
Besides Chowrasia, Chennai consists of Bengaluru boys S Chikkarangappa and Khalin Joshi and they would give the side home advantage when they tee off at the Karnataka Golf Association here.
Chikkarangappa, who won the TAKE Solutions India Masters 2014, and Joshi, who finished 3rd on PGTI Order of Merit, have deep knowledge about the KGA Golf course and the Bengaluru Pros are also in sizzling form.
Chikkarangappa won the 2015 PGTI Players Championship at Kensville Golf Club and Joshi won the 2015 PGTI Ahmedabad Masters presented by Kalhaar Blues & Greens Golf Course while also notching up a tied second place finish at Asian Tour's Basundhara Bangladesh Open 2015 and 14th place finish at CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2015.

"My partners are doing really well in India as well as Asia and since they are from Bengaluru, I am sure the home advantage will propel us to the top," said Kolkata golfer Chowrasia, who finished as runners-up at the Hero Indian Open this year.
"This is the first time we are coming together so there would be lot of planning and strategy. I am looking forward to sitting with the boys a day before the tournament and chalking out our winning strategy."

Playing at home has advantages but it also comes with a lot of pressure from the local fans who will cheer them on.

Chikka, who has earned full Asian Tour Card this year said: "Louis Phillipe Cup is immensely followed tournament and since we are playing in Bengaluru, there will be lot of friends and family who will be walking along for all three days. Sure its pressure but their presence comes in handy on important holes.
"If your putting is not strong, KGA greens can be very costly, and that is where our experience of playing on this course day in and day out will come in handy.