By V. Krishnaswamy, IANS
New Delhi : The only time Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia hesitated during the day Sunday was just before he teed off on the 18th. A couple of spectators walked across his line of sight and Chowrasia, then leading by three shots, backed off. It happened not once but twice.
But once he had whacked the ball down the fairway on the 18th, all that tension was gone. He strode down the fairway confidently a few minutes two-putted from 20 feet for par and clinched the biggest victory of his career.
A win that opens all doors in Europe and Asia till the end of 2010. “This morning when I came to the course, I knew I had a chance but did not think about it. I came to the driving range two and a half hours early and then practiced on the green,” said Chowrasia.
The purse of $416,660 which carries him to the top Asian Tour Order of Merit was also his biggest prize cheque and the biggest ever won by an Indian in India, though Jeev Milkha Singh did pick up a bigger pay packet with his Volvo Masters of Europe win in 2006.
The 29-year-old from Kolkata, who grew up a stone’s throw from Royal Calcutta Golf Club and then caddied there before turning a pro, finished at nine-under 279 and a clear two shots of Damien McGrane of Ireland, whose final hole birdie gave him a card of 70 and a total of seven-under 281.
Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara was third at par 72 for a total of five under par 283. Lara was a shot clear of overnight leader Raphael Jacquelin, of France, and India’s Digvijay Singh. Ernie Els, Dane Thomas Bjorn, Gaurav Ghei, Maarten Lafeber and Ross McGowan completed the top ten at three under par.
He had five birdies, four of which came on the front nine and virtually sealed his win. On the back nine he kept his cool, played steady and made no errors.
“On the back nine I tried to make my pars and I am glad I was able to do that,” Chowrasia said. “Over the last five holes I did think about winning and I just wanted to stay calm and focus on my target. I feel like I have played very well and stayed calm.
“I never thought that I could win this tournament, but I don’t know what I’m going to do in the future. I am sure I will play more both in Asia and Europe, but my ultimate target is to get onto the US Tour.”
It made him the first golfer to win a European Tour event held at home. The tournament was co-sanctioned by both European Tour and the Asian Tour.
Chowrasia’s brilliant and flawless final round of five-under 67, which also kept him as the only player to bring in four sub-par rounds, made him the third Indian player to win on the European Tour. It was also his maiden win on the Asian Tour and the first outside India, though he has won eight times in India.
“I have won many times in India, but have come close and lost here,” said Chowrasia, who lost in a play-off to compatriot Jyoti Randhawa in the 2006 Indian Open at the tight tree-lined Delhi Golf Club.
This time around he held his nerve over the final round and lived up to his nickname ‘Chip-putt’ Chowrasia and skirted all errors.