Indian golfer SSP Chowrasia, who lost his lead at the Asian Tour Order of Merit about a month ago after nearly months of rein on top, claims to put up a fierce competition to reclaim the top spot at this week’s Indian Open to be played at the prestigious Delhi Golf Club here from October 13-16.

In an interview with Samikshan Dutta Choudhury of Indian Sports News, the caddy-turned-pro from Kolkata talks about his chances at the tournament, about the golf course and future endeavors. Excerpts:

ISN: SSP tell us how confident are you before teeing off the Indian Open?
SSP: I am very confident about it, because it is Delhi Golf Club. I am fresh from a week’s break and I love being here at DGC.

ISN: How would you rate your performance after Avantha Masters?
SSP: In the last few months, I had been going through a bad form. I took a week off after the DLF Masters and changed my putting and also worked on my swing. So I am hoping for a better week as whatever bad had to happen has happened and it cannot get worse than this. So now I am looking forward to make it better from here.

ISN: How do you think the course would play during the weekend?
SSP: I think this is the first time I am seeing the course in this conditions. The conditions are bad and the greens are playing very slow and the speed would be somewhere around 9 and ½.

ISN: How much do you think that would affect your game?
SSP: I like fast game. I like when the conditions are tough because that keeps me focused. If the greens are slow, I lose my focus. But then coming back, this is DGC, and I am quite confident about it.

ISN: What do you think about the competition?
SSP: The competition is tough because most of the people from the Asian Tour are coming, but personally according to me Indians golfers would do well here.

ISN: What would be your next aim?
SSP: For me it would be to get a win this week, and top the Asian Tour Order of Merit. And after that see that what needs to be, because it would open up a lot new things for me.