Bando (Japan): Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar hopes his hard work will pay off when he tees off at the Asia-Pacific Open Mitsubishi Diamond Cup, which starts here on Thursday.

The five-time Asian Tour winner made only one cut in nine appearances this year but he is confident of turning the corner at the $1.2 million event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Bhullar will be joined at the Otone Country Club by defending champion Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan, an in-form Roy Ishikawa, who won in Japan last week, compatriot S.S.P. Chawrasia, Jason Knutzon of the United States, who finished tied second last year, and 2011 Order of Merit winner Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines.

The 27-year-old Bhullar believes he will bounce back from an uncharacteristic run of poor results after working tirelessly on a new swing change.

“I’ve been practicing almost every day for a good three to four months. There’s no reason in general why I haven’t made as many cuts as I would like to. I didn’t make a big swing change; it was more of working on my basics, the stance and posture. Once I get that in my head then you will start seeing the results,” said Bhullar.

“I was facing a problem with my driver on the right to left holes. That was the motive behind the change. The main principal of golf is to repeat it over and over again. I’m trying to make it easier so I can keep repeating it.”

Playing in his eighth year on the Asian Tour, Bhullar knows he has to stay patient and keep a cool head.

“For me, patience is important. I need to have some patience and things will come back soon. I’ve played a lot of golf and the more I play, the more mature I get. This will help me in the long run and staying patient is what I’m trying to do,” said Bhullar.