India’s Anirban Lahiri cemented his place in this year’s Masters field with a play-off victory in the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi.
Lahiri, who had won his first three professional events on the New Dehli course, won with a birdie at the first extra hole from Indian-born compatriot SSP Chawrasia who recorded a bogey.
The World No. 39 is now heading to next fortnight’s WGC – Cadillac Championship and before making his first Masters showing at Augusta National in April.
“It is incredible and starting out today I didn’t think I had a chance,” he said after teeing up on day four seven shots behind Chawrasia.
Anirban Lahiri cements his place in this year’s Masters with victory in the Hero Indian Open. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
“Just how it panned out was tough and it was one of the toughest days ever that I have played here at the Dehli Golf Club.
“To have accomplished this victory is a childhood dream and to have an Indian Open trophy at home is very, very special.
“All I was trying to do today was play well and try and give myself a chance on the back nine given it was such an important week for me.
“And just the way it worked out with the leaders having a tough start as there was about eight of us who could have won today, so I feel very lucky and I am really, really happy.
“But then it was only when I walked up to the ninth green I realised I was only one back and up until then I really had no clue where I was on the leader board. However it has happened to me before because the first time I won on this golf course I was four back teeing up on the 10th, so i knew it was possible and that really helped me as I had been in a similar situation on this golf course before.”
It is Lahiri’s second victory in three weeks after capturing the recent Maybank Malaysian Open.
The all-Indian play-off to ensure an eighth winner of the Indian Open in the 51-year staging of the event.
Chawrasia went into the final round leading by two shots but buckled over the final 18 holes posting a horror final round of 76 that included a 15th hole birdie but also five bogeys and a fourth hole double-bogey.
Also it is four years to the day Chawrasia since he won last and that was a second Indian Open title.
There was a warm scene on the 18th tee moments before the play-off with the two Indian born players embracing each other.
However those sentiments didn’t last long with Chawrasia was again in trouble putting his rescue club tee shot into bushes down the left side and then having to bend over in the trees and just hit his shot some 10 yards back on the fairway.
It is the fourth occasion Chawrasia has been runner-up in his ‘home’ Open.
For Lahiri, he moves to second on the Race to Dubai and is the first two-time winner this season and to think just a few months ago he was at the Tour’s Q-School looking to regain his card.
“It’s hard to come to terms with as six months ago I was in Spain at the Q-School and really, really with five holes to play of not regaining my Tour card,” he said.
“So it feels though I have skipped a couple of steps to where I have gotten to right now but it is a fantastic feeling and hopefully I can continue to play well.”
