By Rahul Banerji
Bringing all his experience into play, Om Prakash Chouhan edged home in a close finish at the SSP Chawrasia Invitational in Kolkata on Sunday.
On a day of roller-coaster fortunes, the rankings leader held his nerve to sink a closing birdie that pipped rookie Varun Chopra in a thrilling finish for his fourth win of the season and an 11th title overall.
The Royal Calcutta Golf Club provided an apt setting for the final day of the TAKE Sports presented Rs 1 crore event with players climbing into and then dropping off the lead until Chohan settled the issue, the PGTI said.
Chouhan (70-69-70-73), the overnight leader by four shots, was not at his best on Sunday but scrambled home to the win with a four-day total of 6 under par 282.
Chopra (73-72-69-69) took the runner-up spot on 5-under 283 after shooting the day’s low score of 69.
New territory
The 37-year-old ‘OP’ earned a winner’s cheque of Rs 15 lakh that saw him become the first to cross the R 1 crore barrier in season’s earnings on the PGTI.
OP, who originally hails from Mhow in Madhya Pradesh but is now based in Ahmedabad, extended his lead in the Tata Steel PGTI Ranking with earnings of Rs 1,13,80,559, more than Rs 39 lakh ahead of second-placed Karan Pratap Singh.
Om Prakash, who has stamped his authority through the season, began his day with a birdie but then lost his way with four bogeys over the next 13 holes as he struggled with his putting to concede a one-shot lead to 24-year-old American Chopra.
However, OP made a final push with a gallant effort on the closing stretch as he sank a 10-footer for birdie on hole 15 and followed up with another crucial 10-foot conversion for par on 17.
Chouhan finally wrapped it up with a laser-guided approach shot on 18 that landed four feet from the flag and set up the winning birdie.
Change of plans
OP said, “I normally play attacking golf but today I played a little conservatively to begin with and wasn’t happy about taking the match to the last hole despite having a comfortable overnight lead.
“But I’m delighted that I came through in the high-pressure situation at the end when it mattered the most. Having closed out a few matches earlier in the year, I was confident I could do it again.
“I struggled with my driver on the front nine so I decided to put it away on the back nine and instead use the 3-wood and rescue clubs. That change in strategy paid off.
“Also I putted well through the week except for the last day and made most of the 10 to 15 footers. The crucial chip-putt for par on 17 was the highlight of my round today as it gave me the self-belief going into the last hole.
Staying focussed
“I feel I was thinking a bit too much about the Order of Merit race at one stage, but when I visited Ahmedabad recently, I was told by my friends to focus on my game rather than think too far ahead. That helped me settle down and reassess my goals.”
Chopra took his second runner-up finish of the year and a cheque worth Rs 10 lakh that moved him up from 31st to 16th in the Order of Merit.
Varun, who hit all the fairways on Sunday, picked up six birdies in exchange for two bogeys on the first 11 holes to draw level with Chouhan for the lead.
He also briefly edged ahead but a missed short putt for par on 14 and another for birdie on 18 saw him end the day in second place.
Angad Cheema’s (70) consistent season continued as he finished third on 4-under 284 and thus climbed two spots to ninth place in the money list.
Udayan Mane and Rashid Khan shared fourth place on 2 under 286.
Final top five
282: Om Prakash Chouhan (70-69-70-73)
283: Varun Chopra (73-72-69-69)
284: Angad Cheema (75-67-72-70)
286: Udayan Mane (73-68-73-72); Rashid Khan (75-70-69-72)
Also read: Chouhan takes 4-shot lead into Chawrasia Invitational final round
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