Nov 9, 2013. The in-form Rashid Khan is all set after winning the BILT Open just a few weeks ago and bagging the Best Upcoming Pro of the Year award at the inaugural INDIA GOLF AWARDS. At Delhi Golf Course, Rashid Khan came tantalisingly close to his maiden Asian Tour at the SAIL-SBI Open. It is something Rashid cannot forget easily. On Saturday, he played the Delhi Golf Course as if he was in a practice round, drilling birdies with amazing regularity. He had eight of them, plus an eagle on eighth but he also dropped three bogeys to end up with a card of 65.
At 12-under 204 after rounds of 69, 70 and 65 he is lying third, five shots behind runaway leader Siddikur and one behind second place and fellow Indian, SSP Chowrasia.
He was candid, when he said, “I was playing aggressively. I need a really big score to win it. I’ll give myself a good shot now. I lost here in a playoff at the SAIL-SBI Open to Anirban this year. I hope I don’t go into a play-off again! Anything can happen in DGC. I hope I can get a good round again.”
“I’m pretty happy with my round especially with how I started. I was down after six holes but I recovered really well. I had an eagle on eight. I hit a rescue off the tees and in my approach shot and had about a 15-feet eagle putt, which I holed,” added a happy Rashid, who was part of the Indian amateur team that won a silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in China.
About know the DGC layout, he said, “I have been playing here for years, so I know it very well. But when you are aggressive you can also drop shots. Today I knew I had to take a chance. All my birdies were really good. I just made six pars so I was really enjoying my round. I putted really good. Everything was good. I just had two bad tee shots (6th and 9thholes). Tomorrow will be the same and I will be aggressive again.”
