The European Challenge Tour returns to India for the first time since 2013 for the Duncan Taylor Black Bull Challenge. Here are your three men to keep an eye on at Karnataka Golf Association golf course…
Form horse: Ugo Coussaud
Ugo Coussaud made a fantastic start to the 2023 Road to Mallorca in South Africa and currently sits in sixth position on the Rankings. The Frenchman finished in a tie for second at the season opening Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open before a tie for sixth at the Dimension Data Pro-Am and is now looking to build on solid foundations in India. The 30-year-old, who finished 35th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2022, is targeting a top 20 finish this season to secure DP World Tour playing privileges for 2024.
Local boy: Aryan Roopa Anand
KGA-based professional Aryan Roopa Anand will be looking to use course knowledge to his advantage this week. The 21-year-old was crowned India's Number One amateur last year after winning the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India’s Qualifying School and immediately turned professional. The Indian has looked right at home after making the step up to the PGTI and currently sits in sixth position on the Order of Merit after two top ten finishes this season. Anand will now be looking to make his mark in this week’s co-sanctioned event with the Challenge Tour and continue his rise in the professional game.
The outsider: Oliver Fisher
After losing his DP World Tour playing privileges in 2022, Oliver Fisher has returned to the Challenge Tour as he looks to regain his top tier card. The Englishman enjoyed a stellar amateur career where he was part of Europe’s winning 2004 Junior Ryder Cup team and in 2005 he became the youngest player to take part in the Walker Cup.
In 2006 Fisher finished fifth at DP World Tour Qualifying School, becoming the youngest player from England to earn a Tour card and immediately turned professional. In 2011 he secured his maiden DP World Tour title at the Czech Open but has since been unable to add to his back catalogue. The 34-year-old is looking to reproduce that kind of form and immediately bounce back to the top tier this season.
