SSP Chawrasia held off India’s number one Anirban Lahiri to secure a dream home victory at the Hero Indian Open, marking an incredible journey for the man who began his career as a caddie in Kolkata and had to borrow a set of golf clubs to compete in the professional ranks.
Now, thanks to his two-stroke victory at the Delhi Golf Club over Lahiri and Korean Jeunghun Wang, Chawrasia has secured a full-time return to the European Tour, won US$276,660 and looks likely to qualify to join Lahiri in representing India at this summer’s Olympics in Rio.
Chawrasia, who had won 14 times in India in his pro career and finished runner-up in his national open four times before Sunday’s final round, relied upon a combination of short game wizardry and a lion’s heart to get over the line with a final round of one under par 71 for a 15 under winning total at the notoriously tricky Delhi Golf Club.
“This is very important as I don’t have a full (European) card. Hopefully, I am playing Olympics and World Cup and so it is important,” said the three-time Asian Tour winner.
“I am happy. I was nervous a bit but I focused and breathed in and out and controlled my nerves,” a visibly gleeful Chawrasia said.
“Actually I have been four times runners-up and I have been thinking I have to win this and it has always been a dream. So I am happy to achieve it.”
Nowhere was that more evident on the final hole of the tournament when, under pressure from defending champion Lahri to get up and down from the rough from around 70 yards, Chawrasia produced a magnificent a chip to four feet to put the pressure back on his rival. When Lahiri failed to get up and down for birdie on the par five, Chawrasia stepped forward to secure his place in Indian golfing folklore.
Lahiri, who posted a final round 69 while Wang carded a 68, was among the first to congratulate Chawrasia, who will prove a hugely popular winner in India. The 37 year old’s father was a greenkeeper at Royal Calcutta Golf Club, where a young SSP taught himself how to play. He eventually became a caddie and then took a leap of faith to the professional ranks, when had to borrow a set of clubs from a friend when he started competing in 1997.
“It was pretty intense out there. I got off to a great start but lost a bit of momentum after that. I gave myself a lot of chances but missed quite few from 15-20 feet but at the end of day, SSP hung tough and played very well. I made that put on the third and thought that was a great time to hole a long putt because I hadn’t made many this week. I just lost a bit of ground around the turn on eight and nine and then the back nine is so tight. It was a disappointing finish after a promising start for me, but I am so happy for SSP. This win is huge for him. We were tied for second three years ago, he was second last year and has been second four time at this tournament so it’s great for him to win and lock down the Olympics and everything else that comes with it. I am really pleased for him,” Lahiri said.
Almost 20 years on, Chawrasia has been crowned the Hero Indian Open champion after a career-defining performance in Delhi.
Scores after final round:
273 - S.S.P Chawrasia (IND) 67-67-68-71
275 -Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 67-74-66-68, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 68-71-67-69
276 -Angelo Que (PHI) 70-71-70-65, Adilson da Silva (BRA) 72-66-69-69
278 -Gregory Harvet (FRA) 68-70-71-69, Daniel Im (USA) 65-74-70-69, N. Thangaraja (SRI) 69-71-68-70, Rashid Khan (IND) 69-68-69-72