By Rahul Banerji
Just weeks after finishing second behind Gaganjeet Bhullar at the Indonesian Open, Rashid Khan brought in his second runners-up placing in Taipei on Sunday.
Going into the final day of the $1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters, the Delhi golfer lost his way late in the round to slip into a playoff with eventual winner Chan Shih-Chang.
It needed two titanic tie-break holes to decide the issue and handed the local player his fourth Asian Tour win and the first one at home after he tied the Indian star on the 72nd and final hole in regulation.
For Rashid (67-65-73-68), it was heartbreak yet again and extends his wait for a third Asian Tour win since all the way back in 2014 at the Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand.
It was overall a good outing for Indian professionals with Veer Ahlawat sharing eighth place on six-under 282 ( 69-72-69-72) and Shiv Kapur tied for 10th on five-under 283 (68-73-71-71).
Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia was tied 15th along with Aman Raj on three-under 285s, Ajeetesh Sandhu T21, and Viraj Madappa, Honey Baisoya, Chikkarangappa S., and Khalin Joshi all tied for 29th place on one-over 289s.
Chan (68-68-69-68) was in fact three shots behind with five holes to play and birdied on 18 as Khan missed bis birdie opportunity that would have sealed the win.
Steely nerves
It was the local player who held his nerve better, birdieing the 18th three times in a row – once in regulation and twice in the playoff – after having not done so in the opening three rounds.
“It was going really well, just that I knew the last four holes are crucial,” Khan told the Asian Tour website.
“I hit a good shot on the 15th hole, but I ended up missing it on the side of the green where I haven’t practiced. And I had no idea about the read at all.
“So, I three-putted and that’s where you know … because the last two holes are not so easy to play.
“On the 17th hole I got a little hurried, hit a good shot and I thought it’s gonna be fine on the left side of the green, but it ended up being just over the bunker in the rough.
“And you know, I thought the green is slow from the front, but it wasn’t, and I missed it like 15 feet past the pin.”
Those two crucial misses were enough to open the door for the Taiwan star.
Chan, who has won thrice on the Asian Tour already this year, was finally able to seal his first title on home soil on the second playoff hole at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.
It still needed a special effort, a nine-foot birdie putt to seal the deal after Rashid missed his chance from further out.
asiantour,com adds
Chan sensationally forced the play-off when he holed a nine-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole as Khan agonisingly missed his birdie chance from six feet.
Both players carded four-under-par 68s to finish on 15 under and beat the previous best tournament total – set by Chinese-Taipei’s Tsai Chi-huang’s in 2002 – by one shot.
Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman and Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand tied for third, six shots back after both carding 71s.
“Really happy to win my first Asian Tour title at home. I have always wanted to do this. To be honest, it’s really pressurising,” said Chan later.
“My friends, sponsors and family were out there supporting me today,” said the 36-year-old, who and moved into 10th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
The Chinese-Taipei star started his come-from-behind win with a birdie on 15, before Rashid dropped a shot on the penultimate hole to set up the thrilling showdown on the last.
“This is my first time playing in the final group in my many years of playing in this tournament. I just keep telling myself to stay calm and stick to my game plan and stay positive out there,” Chan added.
This is Chan’s fifth victory on the Asian Tour and the third in 10 months.
He won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship in November last and again in Thailand again this year at the Royal’s Cup in February.
He was also victorious in the King’s Cup in Thailand in 2016 and two months later the Asia-Pacific Diamond Cup in Japan.
Clean slate
The win maintained Chan’s one hundred percent record in play-offs, as he has won two on the Asian Development Tour and one on the Taiwan PGA circuit, while Rashid dropped to 2:1.
Khan had a one-shot lead at the turn and after a birdie on 10 and 13 he looked a safe bet for the title.
Rahman, who last won on the Asian Tour at the Hero Indian Open in 2013, was thrilled with his best finish for some time.
“Oh, it was a wonderful day, I just couldn’t putt well today, rest of the game was excellent,” the Bangladesh star said.
“Just because of putting I couldn’t make a better score, but, overall, I’m happy about my round.”
The result will also allow him to keep his playing privileges for next season.
“That’s a big relief for me because I was really struggling from the beginning of this year.
“I mean, and now I just finished tied third, so I think I have secured my card for next year. Definitely, I will be able to play without tension,” he added.
The Asian Tour heads to the International Series Morocco next from Royal Golf Dar Es Salam from November 3 to 6.
Also read: Morocco, Egypt brought on Asian Tour’s International Series map
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