Chowrasia heroics light up Panasonic

Feature by Anand Datla

November 9, 2014: SSP Chowrasia rose like a Phoenix to set the Delhi Golf Club on fire, with a special performance on Sunday. The feisty 36 year old caught up and edged past his closest opponents at the very end to script a victory that shall etched in his memory for a long time. The man from Kolkata brought his short game to bear in spectacular fashion, in a race against time that left everyone dropping jaws in disbelief. After tying Rahil Gangjee and Mithun Perera at 12-under, Chowrasia cleaned up the Panasonic Open India title with a nerveless birdie from 15 feet out to clinch it in an exciting playoff.

Incredibly, Chowrasia was not even inside the top 10 at the start of the final round. At 6-under through 54 holes, he was lying in eleventh, five strokes off the pace. But a blistering run on the back nine saw Chowrasia navigate the back nine in a mere 31 shots to gate crash the party and enforce a play off.

Rahil Gangjee, the leader for three straight days bungled his start, with the title in sight. After three bogeys in five holes starting from the third hole saw his drop back to 8-under and out of the lead. He recovered well from there by posting back to back birdies just before the turn. Gangjee was still trailing though, and he needed an eagle at the par-5 14 to bring himself back into the title conversation.

Meanwhile, there was another golfer eager to join the mix. After three birdies and four bogeys through twelve holes, Perera was down to 9-under, one worse than where he started. But he too produced some nerveless brilliance on the final stretch, shooting three birdies in four holes to do his bit to ensure the title was decided in a three way playoff.

Chowrasia was carrying the scars of having lost two other playoffs in his career. But he showed no ill-effects from the pain of his past, putting with customary calm to outdo his two opponents and bag a well earned title. There is no doubt that both Gangjee and Perera will have plenty of other opportunities for a title, but today belonged to Chowrasia who went home with his third Asian Tour title.