Anirban Lahiri & SSP Chawrasia resume battle around familiar Mughal ruins

March 17, 2016: The two men have known each other for a long time. And their relationship grew intense last year as they battled through fading light to lay their hands on the coveted Hero Indian Open silverware. The setting is familiar, the course nearly assimilated into their golfing veins like a lesson that has been revised too often. Even then, this is a new battle and the two men – Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia – are back on the course courting glory all over again.

Chawrasia was steady as a rock as he went about his round with a spring in his step, with an undying sparkle in his eyes. Chawrasia appears nearly playful, like a boy in a park, just excited to be there. The affable man from Kolkata went about his business like a man that knew the land, marching serenely to a 67 that kept him within an arm’s length of the leader, Daniel Im.

Anirban on the other hand is a picture of intensity, his eyes speaking fluently of his focus and determination. He was having a testy day, as he mixed bogeys with birdies, even par through 14 holes. But Anirban isn’t easily satisfied and the four straight birdies at the end attested to the resilience and determination of the committed golfer from Bengaluru.

“It was quite an up-and-down day, and I hit a lot of 4-Irons,” admitted Anirban. “But coming in I had a good stretch.”

“I was very inconsistent with my iron play to start with. Then I broke it down and tried to focus on the routine and it worked,” explained Anirban. “I was a bit wayward in the last couple of weeks in US, so when I came back I worked my coach, Vijay Divecha on it. It helps to have someone who knows your game well and sets it right and in good time.”

Chawrasia was a pleased man too. “It was a good start to the tournament. Now, it’s important to build on that for the next three days,” said Chawrasia. “Today my putting was good and I made some good recoveries. I also had a chip-in on the second hole from just over then green from 15-18 feet.”

“My driving overall was decent except on the 16th when I pulled to the left and went into the bushes,” added the man from Kolkata. “I tried to chip out but couldn’t make the up and down from just 10-12 feet. If I had not had made a double bogey on the 16th (my seventh hole) it could have been but its still alright. I will take a five-under for a start. Of course, it will always be nice to have a couple of more birdies, but you can’t have them all.”

Fans in Delhi and around the country will hope that these two men play well enough through the next three days. One more scramble to the end between Lahiri and Chawrasia will not be a bad climax to the Hero Indian Open.