Els to lead star-cast for challenge match

NEW DELHI, Jan 4 (UNI) A sizzling star-cast, spearheaded by Ernie Els will feature in the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters Challenge Match at the Delhi Golf Club tomorrow.

The world number four will be joined by five other high-profile players in the six-man field to mark the formal opening of the first European Tour ever to be played in India.

The pairings for the challenge match are: Ernie Els and Arjun Atwal; Mark O'Meara and Jeev Milkha Singh and Darren Clarke and David Howell.

The Challenge Match will provide the first opportunity for Indian fans to see the game's biggest stars up close and personal in the fun-filled 'greensomes' format on the back nine of the Delhi Golf Club course.

Els, who is playing for the first time in Indian, said, ''Well, I think what the European Tour has done has really helped the Asian Tour, to co-sanction events, to have the Asian players play against stronger fields, and I think the Asian players have really caught up really well.'' The Challenge Match will also be a good opportunity for European Tour players to get the feel of the course ahead of the main competition.

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