Guwahati, Nov. 9: The Digboi golf course will soon be the focus of attention with the second event of the 2007-08 professional golf tour of India (PGTI) season — the Indian Oil Xtra Premium Masters — scheduled to begin on November 15.

With a number of top players contending for the event title, the organisers are hoping for a great finish.

Defending champion and 2006-07 PGTI Order of Merit winner Ashok Kumar will be looking forward to repeating his last year’s performance at Digboi. Kumar had emerged victorious by scoring 14-under par 274. Vikrant Chopra and Shamim Khan had finished joint second with scores of eight-under 280.

Kumar had a good opening this year as he finished a joint seventh at the BILT Open. He will have to perform well in Digboi to leapfrog from his current seventh position on the 2007-08 PGTI Order of Merit.

Digvijay Singh, who is currently placed second behind Lam Chih Bing on the PGTI Order of Merit, may give Kumar a run for his money. Singh finished runner-up at the BILT Open and 14th at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational this year.

Khan, one of the joint runners-up of last year’s meet, will also be breathing down the defending champion’s neck.

The other strong contenders are Gaganjeet Bhullar and Harmeet Kahlon. Bhullar finished a joint 13th at the BILT Open and came close to winning his maiden Asian Tour title at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational. Kahlon performed well in Indonesia, finishing a tied fifth.

The surprise package of the tournament could be Himmat Singh Rai who finished tied third at the BILT Open.