A home winner this time?

Mardan Mamat, Thitiphun Chuayprakong, Jazz Janewattananond -- one Singaporean and two Thais -- took away title of the Bangladesh Open, Bangladesh's only full Asian Tour event, in the first three years.

As the fourth edition of the 300,000-dollar event -- this time branded AB Bank Bangladesh Open -- gets underway tomorrow at the sport's home in Bangladesh, the Kurmitola Golf Club, can we expect to see a home winner?

The general feeling is an optimistic one. Two-time Asian Tour winner Siddikur Rahman, who finished runner-up last time around after a bit of disappointment in the first two editions, is always among the favourites when a golf event takes place at his home course.

There is also Jamal Hossain Mollah and Sajib Ali, both of whom are in pretty good form. Jamal finished second in the recently-concluded BTI Open while Sajib did the same in the Chittagong Open earlier in the year.

And one cannot overlook the experienced Shakhawat Hossain Sohel, the most consistent local performer in those previous three editions.

Siddkur, who's been there and done that all before, is optimistic about the chances of the locals.

“We have prepared well this time. Since the end of the BTI Open, we have been preparing for this event. I can see a few of our players with very good prospects of winning this time,” the 33-year-old golfer told a press conference hosted for this event at the KGC yesterday.

One thing that may be a challenge for the locals is the inclement weather, especially the rain. A lot of local golfers had complained that they are not quite used to playing under rain or heavy wind after failing badly during the first edition.

Siddikur, though, felt that those fears have been overcome with experience.

“Personally, I like a challenge. I'd rather play pretty well in challenging conditions like rain or wind. And I believe that with the number of tournaments our fellow golfers are now playing, they will be pretty much accustomed to it,” the ace golfer added.

However, there will also be a stiff challenge in the form of a strong field which features former winner Mamat, Indian golfing legend Jeev Milkha Singh, Australia's Marcus Both and a strong Thai and Indian contingent.

A total of 97 golfers from 23 countries and 47 golfers from Bangladesh will vie for the coveted title over the next four days.

The press conference was attended, among others, by sponsors AB Bank's president and managing director Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury, Bangladesh Golf Federation's secretary general brigadier general (retd) Quazi Shamsul Islam, BGF's tournament committee chairman brigadier general (retd) Abidur Reza Khan, Asian Tour representative and others.

The press conference was followed by a trophy unveiling programme where Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan Papon was present as the chief guest.