By Rahul Banerji
Karandeep Kochhar overcame a penalty that would have given him the title on Sunday, to complete a come from behind win over Anirban Lahiri in the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational on Monday.
A distraught Kochhar took to social media and vowed to take up the issue of his penalty further on Sunday but he was all business on Monday morning, needing just one hole to close out the tournament.
It was the third straight year a playoff was needed to determine the winner at this Rs 1.5 crore ($203,200 approx) event, but a first in terms going into an extra day at the Chandigarh Golf Club.
It was an extraordinary end for a player who had opened the tournament with a 4-over 76 but fought back superbly over the weekend.
Kochhar’s subsequent rounds of 66, 67 and 68 took him into the playoff against tournament favourite Lahiri (70-68-70-69) though without the penalty he would have finished an outright winner on Sunday.
Having finished on 11-under 277s, Kochhar and Lahiri managed two playoff holes on Sunday before light gave out.
Wise counsel
The shootout was delayed as the penalty was deliberated over after the 18th hole before being imposed, leading Kochhar to hotly contest the issue.
He was however, coaxed to play on by event host Jeev and others, a decision that eventually paid off handsomely.
This was the first time in the domestic tour’s history that a tournament was extended by a day, the PGTI media office said.
Kochhar, who began Sunday in sixth place and three off the lead, went through a rollercoaster of emotions after the penalty for accidentally causing the ball to move on the 17th hole.
He played on to take the event into a fifth day after two tied playoff holes.
In Monday’s third shootout hole, Karandeep made a 15-foot birdie conversion while Anirban missed his 12-footer for birdie.
Back to back wins
The result gave Kochhar back-to-back wins on the Tata Steel PGTI having won the previous event on the tour also at the CGC last month.
Interestingly, the Chandigarh star lost out in a playoff to Chikkarangappa S. of Bangalore in the first edition of the tournament back in 2018.
Kochhar’s win pushed him to first place on the PGTI Order of Merit as his winning cheque of Rs. 24,24,750 ($32,800 approx) took his season’s earnings to Rs. 33,50,680 ($45,300 approx).
Karandeep also earned five Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points for his win which propelled him from 442 to 355 in the world rankings, a gain of 87 places.
Kochhar said later, “I got good advice from Jeev Sir last evening who told me to believe in myself no matter what the situation.
“It means a great deal to me having made such a good comeback after starting with a 76.
Special feeling
“Winning two events in a row is special and I feel I can continue this winning spree further at the next event in Jamshedpur as I’m playing the best golf of my life right now.
“Having played 15-under in the last three rounds, I attribute this win to my positive mindset as I trusted my game despite the poor start to the week.
“I went on the range this morning and practiced some drivers and wedges.
“My focus was on hitting a good drive down the middle to set up a 100 yards full sand wedge approach and then get inside 10 to 15 feet of the pin to put the pressure on Anirban.
“I managed to execute this strategy well. I feel I always have an edge over most players here at my home course.
“I’m confident of scrambling well here even when I’m not playing at my best. So that contributed to my self-belief this week.
“A goal of mine at the start of the year was to win the Order of Merit. I’m now leading the money list so I’m on track to achieve my objective.”
It was an outing to remember for PGA Tour regular and seven-time international winner Lahiri as well who returned to play an event on the PGTI after over six years.
Also read: Jeev Invitational race tightens, Lahiri into top three
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