SSP Chowrasia finally banished the gremlins and stunned a star-studded field to walk away with the Indian Masters title as the Delhi Golf Club witnessed a new star on Sunday.
Son of a greenkeeper at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club, SSP -- monikered 'Chipputtsia' for his magical short game -- signed off with a blemish-free final round of 67 and his aggregate of 279 was enough to make him only the third Indian -- after Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh -- with an European Tour title against his name.
Thus, an Indian went on to win what was the first European tour event in the country.
"This is definitely the biggest title of my career. I did not have any inkling before the tournament that the title would be mine," said the beaming golfer.
"As I played the last three-four holes, I knew I had the title in my grasp and all I needed was to stay calm, which I did.
"Now that I have won it, I would play both in Asia and Europe before attaining my ultimate goal to play in the USPGA Tour," he said.
Chowrasia pocketed USD 416,660 for his exploits and finally laid his fingers on a prestigious title after finishing second in the Indian Open in 1999 and 2006.
Damien McGrane (281) of Ireland finished second after his final round of 70, two shots ahead of Jose Manuel Lara, who shot 72 today.
Digvijay Singh (70) and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin (74) shared fourth spot at 284.
My Thoughts
It's only fitting really that an Indian won the inaugural co-sanctioned event. It will be interesting to see whether he will eventually make his goal of playing on the US tour.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Chowrasia wins Indian Masters
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Golf News: Indian Masters Day 3 Wrap
Frenchman Rafael Jacquelin held a one-stroke lead over Ireland's Damien McGrane, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara heading into the final round of the Indian Masters.
BMW Asian Open champion Jacquelin, who missed the cut in Dubai last week, scored a level-par, third-round 72 on a blustery day to remain at six under par at the Delhi Golf Club.
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He got lucky over the closing holes, once rebounding out of the trees into the middle of the fairway - how nice it is to see an old-fashioned tree-lined course for a change; Tiger Woods's two-iron would certainly have been in the bag - and once stopping just short of out of bounds.
The top four are not exactly career winners. Jacquelin won for only the second time last year, McGrane has never won, Lara captured his first title last year and McDowell has not triumphed since 2004.
Overnight leader McGrane (75) slipped back into a tie for second after windy conditions disrupted the game plan which had helped him to a two-stroke overnight lead and faint hope of a maiden European Tour title.
"We had to change a lot of clubs which we don't like doing, but because the wind was so strong we had to change our game plan which made it difficult," he said.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Golf News: Indian Masters Day 2 Wrap
Northern Ireland's Damien McGrane stroked a majestic 69 to take a two shot lead at the Indian Masters on Friday, as Ernie Els made amends for his disastrous opening round to scrape through the cut.
Another Irishman Graeme McDowell, who finished fifth behind Tiger Woods in Dubai on Sunday, shares second place with South Africa's Hendrik Buhrmann and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin at six under for the tournament on 138.
But on a cold and grey Delhi day first round leader Jyoti Randhawa lost the plot, firing a five-over-par 77 to be six behind McGrane.
Former Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn remains in the hunt at four under while US veteran Mark O'Meara is on the fringes of the leaderboard after a 73 left him six strokes adrift.
World number four Els, who was rattled by a nine on Thursday, looked to be heading for an early plane home after bogeying the first but he rallied with an eagle at the eighth and a birdie on the 14th.
And he fared much better on the par-5 18th that undid him in round one, sinking a birdie for a 70 to leave him nine behind McGrane.
"Just the one hole yesterday and it could have been a little bit different, but it was a tough day for me today. I find it very difficult scoring on this golf course," said Els.
"If I can somehow get to something like six under on Saturday, I might have a chance on Sunday."
McGrane, who is looking for his first European Tour victory, found the conditions were much harder than on the opening day.
"The temperature was really cold out there and it was a lot more difficult than Thursday," said the unassuming 36-year-old.
"So three-under for the day is a good number and I'm happy with that."
He forecast a winning score of around 16-under-par, and said he would stick to the same strategy over the weekend...
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Golf News: Indian Masters Day 1 Wrap
Ernie Els shot a horror quadruple bogey to lag 10 behind leader Jyoti Randhawa at the inaugural Indian Masters on Thursday, with the local star eagling the last for a two shot lead.
Irishman Damien McGrane played two rounds with Tiger Woods at the Dubai Desert Classic last week and the world number one's magic clearly rubbed off as he fired a 67 to lie second, alongside Englishman Richard Finch.
Rejuvenated Dane Thomas Bjorn, Delhi resident Shiv Kapur, and Spain's Jose Mauel Lara lurk one further back at the 2.5 million dollars event, while US veteran Mark O'Meara rolled back the years with a 69.
Randhawa, who posted four top-10 finishes on the European Tour last year, used his local knowledge to good effect, putting together three birdies and two eagles.
But fellow Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, seen as a favourite to win, succumbed to the pressure with a poor 77.
Randhawa has won on the Lodhi course five times before and he thought back to those victories to tailor his game.
"My past performances helped a lot," he said.
"I've won a few times here before and I thought back to that and it helped. What I did before, I did again.
"As long as I can keep to the same things and handle the pressure this week, I'll be alright."
McGrane has never won a European Tour event but was boosted by playing with Woods, although he was reluctant to give credit to the world's best.
"I enjoyed playing with Tiger, he encouraged me all the way. It's nice to play with the world's top player and survive the experience," he said.
"But every week is a new beginning, a new start. It was all about making the birdies whenever possible today..."
