Chip-Putt Chawrasia banks on history to revive fortunes

By Rahul Banerji

For two-time winner Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia, the 2019 edition of the Hero Indian Open is all about redemption. The Kolkata golfer, who was champion in 2016 and 2017 has not had the best time it in recent months and is looking for a change in fortunes this time when action gets under way at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon from Thursday.

“In the last couple of years, I have not really been able to do justice to my abilities, especially on European courses,” he admitted on tournament eve,.” The priority for me at the moment is to make sure I keep my card, and that sometimes can create its own pressure.”

Being a past winner, though, helps. “The Hero Indian Open is and will always be one of my favourite golf tournaments. I have won it twice and though of late my results have not been as good as they can or should be, I  know I just needs four good days here to get my game back on track.”

Below par

Chawrasia’s strength has been his short game, and he feels somewhere he has not done justice to this aspect of late. “People often talk about chipping and putting being the strongest aspects of my game but that has not been up to par in recent times.

“There have been quite a few occasions where I have missed putts that I normally hardly ever would, and that is one area I have been working very hard on.

“Having said that, I have won the Indian Open on this course before so that by itself is a big advantage for me. This course can be managed if one really applies some thought, and my Pro-Am round this morning was a big help in getting a feel of how it has been set up this time,” Chawrasia added.

Home power

In the last year or so, competition too has increased with a host of young guns emerging from the Indian tour as well. Chawrasia is happy to use the local aspect to boost his hopes. “Like for every other Indian in the field, I consider this as the fifth Major. For all of us, it is also the national Open and that is extra motivation to work harder to try and do well here.

“I think my results in the event, two wins and four runner-up placings in the last seven-eight years show that. This time too, I am keen to bring my best golf to the event and who know what can happen at the end of four days.”

On that upbeat note, SSP will return at 12.35 pm on Thursday to put all his resolutions and ideas to the test. He is after all, an Indian Open champion.

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