New Delhi: After a string of good results this season, SSP Chowrasia, a two-time winner on Asian and European Tours in joint-sanctioned events, is convinced that a win is not too far away. Speaking on the eve of the Panasonic Open India 2014, he said, “I have been playing well and am hitting the ball confidently. It is just a question of things coming together and it could happen anytime.”
Chowrasia has had a total of seven top-10 finishes this year on three different Tours – the Asian, the European and the Asian Development Tours.
Giving Chowrasia a run for his money will be Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, who returns to competitive golf at the Panasonic Open India after being side-lined by an injury which hospitalised him for 15 days, besides the defending champion, Wade Ormsby, who has had a good season in Europe but came back to defend his first title.
Others in the fray will include S Chikkarangappa, winner of the Take Solutions ADT event last week, Chiragh Kumar, a former Indian Open runner-up at this course, Mardan Mamat, winner of the Indian Open at DGC exactly 10 years ago, and Rahil Gangjee.
Smiling as usual, Chowrasia was a picture of confidence as he recalled some fond memories of the Delhi Golf Club, where he won his first joint-sanctioned event six years ago in 2008. Over the years he has had some terrific results at the famous tree-lined and challenging course.
His last three appearances at the DGC have seen him finish in top-five. He was tied fifth at 2013 Panasonic Open and then tied second at 2013 Hero Indian and then tied fourth at SAIL-SBI Open this year.
“The DGC is definitely one of my favourite courses. I have some great memories of this course as it brings the best out of me,” said Chowrasia. “I like this course. It suits my game and I enjoy the atmosphere here.”
He added, “I feel the scoring could be quite low this week with the fairways being softer and the ball not rolling into the jungle easily. I feel the a winning score could even be 18 to 20 under.”
Talking of his strategy for the week, Chowrasia said, “One can only use the driver here if you’re hitting it really straight. I left my driver in Kolkata this week. So, I’ll be using the 3-wood off the tee on most occasions.”
Speaking of the last few years he said, “I’m confident of a good show here this week. The rigours of playing on the European Tour have helped me become a more confident player in Asia. I feel a win is not far away now.”
He went on to add, “After the Panasonic Open, next on my agenda will be the European Tour Q-School which is the following week. Qualifying for the Olympics is also on my mind and I feel the 2015 season will be crucial for me in that regard.”
Siddikur, a two-time Asian Tour winner injured his back (fourth and fifth lumbar disc compressing against a nerve) in June and was on the road to recovery before aggravating the injury at the European Masters in Switzerland in September.
The popular Bangladeshi is thankful to be back on the Asian Tour and will be contending in this week’s US$300,000 event.
“Unfortunately I got injured but that’s part of life. I’m very happy to return to one of my favourite golf courses. Last year during the same week, I won the Indian Open here, so I have great memories here and I’m looking forward to it,” said Siddikur.
He felt pain in his lower back in June after exercising in the gym but the pain became unbearable in the cold conditions in Switzerland which forced him to retire from the tournament.
Upon his return to Bangladesh, he was hospitalised for 15 days but has recovered significantly by doing yoga and physiotherapy regularly.
“I’m feeling better but I’m not expecting anything this week. I just want to play my own game. I’m still concerned about my back. I’m feeling better day by day because of yoga. I have to really strengthen my back or I might get injured,” he explained.
After playing in over 200 events without winning, Ormsby, ranked 32nd on the Order of Merit, is excited at the prospect of defending his Panasonic Open India title.
“It is always good to come back to the place where you won your first title. I’ve never won before so this is a whole new set of feelings for me. It is a good golf course and my game is feeling good so it is nice to have a legitimate crack at it again,”
After missing only three cuts in 23 appearances in Asia and Europe this year, Ormsby will rely on his sharp shooting game to steer clear from trouble at the tree-lined Delhi course.
“Yeah I hit the driver three times around here. That’s how I play at Delhi. I’m a relatively straight hitter but I don’t want to jinx myself,” he laughed.
Thai rising star Jazz Janewattananond will play ‘fearless’ golf as he aims to challenge for a first Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open India.
“I want to go for it and not to be too scared. The golf course doesn’t scare me but you have to be careful here. I played well here before because I just aimed for the fairways. This year I will try to do the same,” said the 19-year-old Jazz.
The 2014 Panasonic Open India, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the PGTI, is staged in its fourth straight year. Past winners include India’s Anirban Lahiri and Digvijay Singh.
