SSP Chowrasia wins Indian Masters title

NEW DELHI, February 10: The weather was perfect for an outstanding display by the golfers on the Delhi greens, with three Indians making a top 10 finish in the first ever European tour event in India, the $2.5 million Indian Masters at the Delhi Golf Club on Sunday. And the man who made the hosts proud was Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia.
With the weather being much golfer-friendly vis-à-vis day three, Chowrasia created history as he won the inaugural event at the DGC on Sunday.With this win, the greenskeeper’s son bagged a handsome purse of $416,660.
Nicknamed 'Chipputtsia', the self taught golfer was immensely delighted of his maiden win.
In Pics: Chowrasia wins Indian Masters title
"Normally I don't play too well in the final round, but whenever I've won a tournament I've always shot a brilliant last round, usually 5- or 6-under, and I think I played very good golf. So I am very, very happy," said an exuberant Chowrasia.
The Kolkatan shot a superb 5-under par 67 in the final round to put up a majestic 9-under to be on top of the leaderboard. Chowrasia came from behind and played a flawless round hitting five birdies in all and parring the rest on the final day.
"Well, I did not think too far ahead when I started, but I had a plan in my mind that was not to give away too many shots in terms of bogeys, but to stick to pars and the birdies would come along anyway," said the down to earth golfer.
Chowrasia never played as an amateur and directly became a pro. The Indian Masters has been his first tournament win in a European event.
"My feeling has been very good. I felt very good about winning here. It was a bigger struggle to get on to the Asian Tour from the Indian Tour, and now I'm directly on the European tire. So the struggle came initially and now it's going to be fairly okay," said the 29-year-old champion.
"First I want to play on the European Tour and do well, and then my target is to get on the US Tour," he added.
Arjun Atwal, who was in the same group with Chowrasia, shot a round four 76 ending at even par for the tournament. Atwal, the first Indian golfer to win the European Tour International schedule at the 2002 Singapore Open Masters, finished at tied 15th with three others.
Following Chowrasia on the leaderboard was day two leader Damien McGrane from Ireland who finished his final round on 70, putting a total of 7-under 281. The Irishman, ranked 311 in the world, was pretty satisfied with his best ever finish.
"I'm happy with second place and the start of the season is a great time to have a second place, so I'm very happy and content," said McGrane, who bagged a purse of $277,770.
Appreciating the splendid show put up by Chowrasia, McGrane said, "I could have won, could have done all sorts of things, but second place I'm happy with. And fairly played to the winner, he must have played great golf, and being an Indian in front of his home crowd, he'll learn a lot, so I'm not going to take that from him."
Jose Manuel Lara of Spain carded a tournament total of 5-under 283 to take the third position on the leaderboard.
"I hit the ball maybe better today than yesterday. I made a mistake on the 14th. I was 1-under, and today, you know, I was 6-under total waiting for something, just make a birdie and then wait for the 18th and do something. But nothing happened at the end," said Lara.
Another Indian who made a mark on the leaderboard was Digvijay Singh. He carded a round four 70, putting his total to 4-under for the tournament.
Singh shared the fourth spot with penultimate round leader Raphael Jacquelin of France. Jacquelin couldn't maintain his day three lead, shooting four bogeys and two birdies to end day's play at 74.
Another Indian to stay in top 10 was Gaurav Ghei, who carded a round four 71, putting up his tournament total to 3-under.
World number four Ernie Els, the major star attraction of the event, made a respectable finish in the event as he carded a fourth round 71, putting his tournament total to 3-under. The South African shared the sixth spot with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Maarten Lafeber of Netherlands, Ross McGowan from England and India's Ghei.
Slump in form
India's Jyoti Randhawa finished round four at 73, putting up 2-over 290 for the tournament. He was tied 22nd with six others. His best for the coveted event was witnessed in the opening round, when he stroked a sizzling 7-under to be on top of the leaderboard.
Accompanying his dismal showing at the DGC was compatriot Shiv Kapur. The 25-year-old carded an even par 72 in the fourth round, finishing the tournament on 6-over 294.
PositionPlayerScorePrize (US $)1SSP Chowrasia (IND) 9-under 279$416,6602Damien McGrane (IRL) 7-under 281$277,7703Jose Manual Lara (ESP)5-under 283$156,5004Raphael Jacquelin (FRA)4-under 284$115,5004Digvijay Singh (IND)4-under 284$115,500