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Vijay Kumar on a high

Despite losing the recently-concluded Rs 20-lakh Wills Masters tournament at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club course on Saturday, Lucknow's Vijay Kumar became the first pro in the 1999-2000 season of the Wills Sport Indian Golf Tour to cross the Rs one million earnings mark.

A misread putt on the final hole denied Vijay the top prize of Rs 3,24,000, but the runner-up cheque of Rs 2,24,000 was enough to carry his season's earnings to Rs 10,63,825.

These are Vijay's earnings from the Indian Golf Tour alone. In addition, he also got a Honda City 1.5 Exi car worth Rs seven lakh for winning the Honda-Siel PGA Championship.

Breaking into the million rupee mark has become a habit for the twice Mahindra Player of the Year. In 1997-98, Vijay made Rs 12,83,730, and went one step better the next year by earning Rs 13,41,730. Only two other players have had the distinction of breaking the million rupee mark in a season - Gaurav Ghei in 1996-97, and Kanpur's Shiv Prakash in 1998-99. Calcutta's Uttam Singh Mundy fell short by Rs 47,000 last year.

Winner of three events on the Tour this season, Vijay has now made a phenomenal Rs 43 lakh by playing the Indian Golf Tour in last four years. This includes the Mahindra Player of the Year awards of Rs 4.8 lakh in 1997-98 and Rs 5.76 lakh in 1998-99. He is leading the Mahindra Ranking points again this season and is in line for the Rs seven lakh prize.

In the latest Order of Merit before the Sir Padampat Singhania Open, to be played at the Noida Golf Club from February 23rd, Vijay is followed by Calcutta's Feroz Ali at Rs 7.87 lakh. Mhow's Mukesh Kumar, a two-time winner on the Tour this season, is third at Rs 6.62 lakh.

Five pros have crossed the half million earning mark already this season with five events yet to be played. The other two are Chandigarh's Hero Golf Chandigarh Open winner, Amritinder Singh at Rs 5.33 lakh and Wills Masters winner Gaurav Ghei at Rs 5.29 lakh. Shiv Prakash is knocking at the half million mark with earnings of Rs 4.99 lakh.

As many as 37 players on the Tour have already earned more than Rs one lakh. The rookies are also having a good year with Chandigarh's Harmeet Kahlon leading the way at 12th place with Rs 3.25 lakh. Digvijay Singh of Meerut is 16th with Rs 1.98 lakh, while Zai Kipgen is 22nd with Rs 1.71 lakh.

WILLS SPORT GOLF TOUR ORDER OF MERIT (The Top 15):
1. Vijay Kumar, Lucknow, Rs 10,63,825; 2. Feroz Ali, Calcutta, Rs 7,87,485; 3. Mukesh Kumar, Mhow, Rs 6,61,663; 4. Amritinder Singh, Chandigarh, Rs 5,33,083; 5. Gaurav Ghei, Delhi, Rs 5,29,130; 6. Shiv Prakash, Kanpur, Rs 4,99,089; 7. Rohtas Singh, Delhi, Rs 4,54,395; 8. Basad Ali, Calcutta, Rs 4,09,062; 9. Ali Sher, Delhi, Rs 4,02,735; 10. Arjun Singh, Delhi, 3,83,725; 11. Rafiq Ali, Calcutta, Rs 3,74,069; 12. Harmeet Kahlon, Chandigarh, Rs 3,25,215; 13. Sanjay Kumar, Lucknow, Rs 2,74,096; 14. Vishal Singh, Jaipur, Rs 2,72,347; 15. Shamim Khan, Delhi, Rs 2,20,723