Sher-e-Kashmir Open from tomorrow

SRINAGAR, OCT. 2. Notwithstanding the bomb attack that killed more than 30 people here on Monday, the battle-hardened professionals on the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour showed eagerness to go ahead with the Sher-e-Kashmir Open tournament.

The Rs. 15-lakh tournament gets underway at the Royal Springs Golf Club course here on Thursday. Nestled between the magnificent Zabarvan range of mountains and the enchanting Dal Lake, the lush green course is perhaps the most scenic one in the sub-continent.

``This clearly is the most beautiful golf course I have played on,'' said Digvijay Singh, winner of the 2000 BGC Open. ``Not only is the course beautiful, but also it is very well maintained. I think if they can work a bit on the fairways, this course can be compared to the very best in the world,'' said last season's Rookie of the Year, Rahul Ganapathy.

However, defending champion Rohtas Singh cautioned his fellow competitors not to be taken in by the sheer beauty of the course. ``I think one has to be careful not to visit certain places on this course. It is a challenging layout and you need to be careful while approaching the greens,'' said the 46-year-old Rohtas, who last won this event in 1989 when it was played at the Gulmarg Golf Club.

The Sher-e-Kashmir Open forms the sixth leg of the Hero Honda Golf Tour's 2001-02 calender.

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