Chowrasia masters maiden international win

PGTI member SSP Chowrasia creates history with a memorable win at the Emaar -MGF Indian Masters that also earned him a full card on the European Tour for three years apart from making him richer by Rs 1.65 crores.

India’s Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia created history by registering his maiden international win on the European Tour after carding a flawless and bogey-free 67 in the final round at the Emaar MGF inaugural Indian Masters at the Delhi Golf Club here on Sunday.

A Grasskeeper’s son from Kolkata has taken a big leap with this triumph, as it not only brought glory to the nation but also made him only the third Indian golfer to win an event on the European Tour after Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh.

Chowrasia won the tournament with a total of nine under 67 amidst some big players of European circuit. He seemed to be in sublime form throughout his final round making five birdies on the way.

The win at the Emaar MGF Indian Masters not only made Chowrasia richer by US$ 416,660 (Rs 1.65 crores) but also provided him a breakthrough on the European Tour. He has now earned himself a full card on the European Tour for three years.

Irishman Damien McGrane finished two strokes Chowrasia to secure second place. Digvijay Singh (tied fourth) and Gaurav Ghei (tied sixth) were the other PGTI members who finished in the top-10.

World No. four Ernie Els staged a comeback in the tournament to secure tied sixth position. Arjun Atwal ended the tournament in tied 15th while Jyoti Randhawa could only manage tied 22nd place.

The Kolkata lad started his round with birdies on the first, third and fourth. He made birdie on the third hole after chipping-in from 30 feet. The soft-spoken professional from the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) then made two more birdies on the seventh and 11th.

“I wasn’t thinking too much about the win on the front nine because there was still half a round left. In the second half, all I wanted to do was to score pars and keep it going,” said Chowrasia after his astounding win.

“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 five under or six under,” the Indian Masters champion revealed.

I’m very happy because I think I played very good golf.”

Replying on his feelings after the win, Chowrasia said, “Right now my mind is totally blocked because I’m not able to think anything right now.” Chowrasia capped a brilliant week with four sub-par scores of 70, 71, 71 and 67.

The 29-year-old had already impressed one and all on the Asian Tour by bagging six top-20s in the 2006 season. This included a best of tied ninth at the Hero Honda Indian Open. This helped him climb up to 32nd place on the UBS Asian Tour Order of Merit for 2007.

PGTI member Digvijay Singh (70, 70, 74, 70) put up an outstanding performance to secure tied fourth place at four under 284. He had a solid round with birdies on the sixth, 10th and 11th and a lone bogey on the seventh.

Gaurav Ghei (75, 69, 70, 71) wasn’t far behind in tied sixth. He ended with a total of three under 285. Ghei made birdies on the third, eighth and 15th and bogeyed the 10th and 11th on Sunday.

International star Ernie Els joined Ghei in tied sixth with scores of 75, 70, 69 and 71. He made a great comeback with his consistent performance in the second, third and fourth rounds after a disappointing first round. Els made nine consecutive pars on the front nine before making birdies on the 10th and 18th and a lone bogey on the 14th.

Arjun Atwal who began his 2008 season with a bang finishing tied second on the Nationwide Tour’s Movistar Panama Championship, ended the tournament in tied 15th at even par 288. His scores for the week were 70, 70, 72 and 76.

The reigning Hero Honda Indian Open champion, Jyoti Randhawa (65, 77, 75, 73) had a tied 22nd finish with a total of two over 290. Randhawa’s 73 on Sunday was marked by birdies on the seventh and eighth and bogeys on the fourth, ninth and 10th.

Amandeep Johl (five over 293) secured tied 35th while Shiv Kapur (six over 294) was tied 38th. Shiv Kapur’s even par 72 in the final round saw him make birdies on his first two and last two holes while he bogeyed the fifth, ninth, 11th and 12th. Kapur had fired 68, 78 and 76 in the first three rounds.

The other Indians in the fray included C Muniyappa (tied 44th), Shamim Khan (tied 48th), Ashok Kumar (tied 55th), Ali Sher (61st), Harmeet Kahlon (tied 64th) and Rahul Ganapathy (67th).