SSP Chowrasia stars at Indian Open

Edited by Anand Datla

February 19, 2015: SSP Chawrasia, runner-up three times in the Hero Indian Open, began his campaign in style with a bogey-free 65 that gave him one-fifth share of the lead at the end of the first day of the 2015 Hero Indian Open at the Par-71 Delhi Golf Club.  The other co-leaders on a very global leaderboard were defending champion Siddikur of Bangladesh, Chapchai Nirat of Thailand, European Tour Qualifying School graduate Joakim Lagergren of Sweden and Canadian Richard Lee.

Chawrasia, runner-up as a scrawny 20-year-old back in 1999 when Arjun Atwal broke through for maiden win, was second again in 2006 and 2013. The now 36-year-old, fondly referred to as SSP, has in last four starts at the DGC won once; finished second, fourth and fifth on three appearances. Chawrasia has two wins at this – the Indian Masters in 2008 and the Panasonic Open India in 2011.

Defending champion Siddikur, who loves the course as much as Chawrasia has logged eight Top-10 finishes at the DGC over the years. He capped that run with a win at the 2013 Hero Indian Open.

In 2009 Chapchai Nirat shot a brilliant 32-under at the SAIL Open at Classic Golf Resort, Gurgaon, and Richard Lee, who comes to DGC riding on the form that gave him Top-5 finishes in Malaysia and Thailand over the last fortnight.

Starting on the tenth he slotted three birdies on either side of the course and finished with a great flourish. He said, “I have very positive memories of this golf course and tournament and I carried them well with me today. I have won here twice, once each in Asian Tour and a co-sanctioned event in 2008. Last year I was runner-up at the Hero Indian Open and I was second even in 2006 and 1999, so maybe the golfing gods will listen me sometime,” said the smiling Chawrasia.

“I played very well and was bogey free. I made some good putts and was hitting it good off the tees. It looked easy but it wasn’t! My putting was good so that’s the key. I’ve played here many times so I know how to play this course. Richard (T. Lee) was playing well as well so it was fun to play with him,” he added.

Chawrasia started from the 10th and birdied the 12th, 17th 18th and turned in three-under. Then he added birdies on first, sixth and eighth. “I had an eagle chance on first from 15 feet, but managed only a birdie. Still I am very happy with what I have from today. It was a good round. Sure I left a couple of birdies out there, but I also had a couple of very good par saves like the 15-foot par putt on third,” he added.

He went on, “This is my National Open and all the Indian golfers enjoy playing in this event. I’m not thinking too much on the course, I’m just enjoying myself. My wife and friends are here so that’s nice. The winning score will be about 20-under.”

Also playing without a bogey on the first day was Siddikur with three birdies on ether side, while Chapchai opened birdie-birdie and then had four birdies in last eight holes.

Lee, fourth in Thailand and fifth in Malaysia, starting on the tenth birdied four times on the back stretch of the course and twice on the front nine, while Lagergren dropped a shot on the fourth hole after starting from the 10th.

Siddikur said, “I played really good golf and made some long putts. My hitting was perfect so that was good. I always look forward to returning to the Delhi Golf Club. This is my favourite course. This is a tight and narrow golf course. I’m a very accurate player so I really like this type of course. You always see me in good positions when I play here.”

“You have to plan your shots here and I know what to do here. I’m very excited to see my name on top the leaderboard. I injured my back last year and it is still bothering me. I hope I will be able to carry on my good form. I haven’t 100% recovered from my injury. It bothered me last week so hopefully I will be fine this week,” said the Bangladeshi super star.

Chapchai said, “My iron and putting were good. I struggled with a shoulder (left) injury and I couldn’t hit the ball at all. I retired in Malaysia and missed the cut in Thailand last week because of the injury. I injured my shoulder in the gym and because I practised too much. I feel better now but it was slightly sore today. I have very good memories in India because I won in 2009 and set the world 72-hole scoring record. This week is important because I have a chance to win again.”

Lee, who won his breakthrough title in the Philippines last year, said, “It’s a really challenging course out there so to finish the day with six birdies and no bogeys is some pretty good golf. You have to hit the right shots at the right times and I managed to make a few putts too. I like playing tight courses like this one.

“There was a pretty strong breeze out there today as well so when I am playing in those conditions it kind of helps me concentrate a little more. I like challenging courses. I played great in Malaysia and Thailand but the challenge there was so different. Here it’s tight and bouncy so to play well here after the last two weeks is pretty satisfying.

“I have played here for the last two years though, so I definitely knew what to expect from this golf course. It was great to play with SSP today and I learned a lot about managing this course by watching him hit certain shots today.”

Lagergren, the only one of the leaders who had a bogey on his card, said, “ That was a really good score. It’s not easy out there because it is such a tight course so I am very happy that everything worked for me today. I didn’t hit a single driver today and will not hit one all week because it is such a tight course. I took two months off from golf because I was so busy last year that I needed to rest and have some time off. It’s going to be a busy week so it was nice to be able to take a break.”

Maybank Malaysian Open winner Anirban Lahiri shot one-over 72, while playing partner Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain carded one-under 70.