Lahiri wins as Chawrasia stumbles
Local hero Anirban Lahiri won his second European Tour title in three weeks after beating compatriot SSP Chawrasia in a play-off at Delhi Golf Club on Sunday.
Lahiri was seven shots off the lead at the start of the final round, but a closing 69 saw him force extra holes as overnight leader Chawrasia stumbled to a 76.
The pair returned to the par-five 18th for the play-off and with Chawrasia unable to make par after hooking his tee shot into the trees while Lahiri made a birdie as he drained a 10-foot putt.
Lahiri, who won the Malaysian Open a fortnight ago, had been four over par after 10 holes of his opening round but the win solidifies his place in the top 50 of the world rankings and effectively secures his Masters debut in April.
“It’s incredible – starting today I didn’t really think I had a chance,” Lahiri told the European Tour’s official website.
“It was one of the toughest days ever that I’ve played golf at Delhi Golf Club and I’m really happy to have accomplished this: it’s a childhood dream.
“I was just trying to play well and give myself a chance on the back nine. There were about eight of us who could have pulled through so I feel really lucky and fortunate, and really happy.”
The 27-year-old had chipped in for par on the 17th in regulation as a number of players squandered chances to either win the title outright or join the play-off.
Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera and Australian Marcus Fraser all finished on six-under, with Perera the only player to birdie the par-five 18th.
Marksaeng three-putted the last from long range for par, while Fraser held the outright lead on nine under par after 12 holes only to double-bogey the 13th and drop another shot on the 16th.
Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman began the day two off the lead on 10 under but slumped to a 76, like Chawrasia, to finish five-under-par.
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