The Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour will step into year 2004 with the Hero Honda Open West, which begins at the new look par-71 Poona Club Golf Course on Tuesday.

The cream of Indian golf will battle it out for the Rs 1,62,000 winner's cheque, out of the total purse of Rs one million. The top ten players in the Money List from the 2003-04 season, including No 1 Mukesh Kumar (Mhow), No 2 Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Kolkata), No 3 Ashok Kumar (Mhow) and No 4 Digvijay Singh (Meerut), are among those who will tee up for the prestigious tournament. The runner-up will be richer by Rs 1,12,000.

Chowrasia, the hottest player on the Tour with back-to-back victories in the last two events – NGC Open and Tata Open – will attempt to defend the title he won in thrilling fashion last year by one stroke over compatriot Yusuf Ali.

A third victory on a trot would ensure him the top ranking on the Money List, surpassing Mukesh, who is ahead by less than Rs 12,000.

The Poona Club Golf Course has been completely refurbished and wears a new look for the tournament. It now possesses one of the finest driving ranges in the country as well as a huge new putting green.

The Hero Honda Open West is the 12^th event on the 2003-04 season of the Hero Honda Indian Golf Tour. Mukesh Kumar, SSP Chowrasia and Arjun Singh have won two events each, while Jyoti Randhawa, Digvijay Singh, Feroz Ali, Uttam Singh Mundy and Ashok Kumar won once each. As many as 34 players have already crossed the Rs 100,000 earnings mark.