Indian golfer SSP Chowrasia, who lost the lead in the Asian Tour Order of Merit about a month ago after months at the top, promises a fierce fight to reclaim the top spot at this week’s Indian Open, to be played at the Delhi Golf Club from 13 to 16 October.
In an interview with Samikshan Dutta Choudhury of Indian Sports News, the caddie-turned-professional from Kolkata talks about his chances at the tournament, the course and his plans. Excerpts:
ISN: How confident are you before teeing off at the Indian Open?
SSP: I am very confident, because it is the Delhi Golf Club. I am fresh after a week’s break and I love being here at the DGC.
ISN: How would you rate your performance since the Avantha Masters?
SSP: For the last few months I had been going through a bad patch. I took a week off after the DLF Masters, changed my putting and also worked on my swing. So I am hoping for a better week. Whatever bad had to happen has happened, and it cannot get worse than this. I am looking forward to making it better from here.
ISN: How do you think the course will play over the weekend?
SSP: I think this is the first time I have seen the course in these conditions. The conditions are bad, the greens are playing very slow, and the speed will be somewhere around nine and a half.
ISN: How much will that affect your game?
SSP: I like a fast game. I like it when conditions are tough, because that keeps me focused. If the greens are slow, I lose focus. But then again, this is the DGC, and I am quite confident here.
ISN: What do you think of the competition?
SSP: The competition is tough, because most of the players from the Asian Tour are coming, but personally I think the Indian golfers will do well here.
ISN: What is your next aim?
SSP: For me it is to win this week and top the Asian Tour Order of Merit. After that we will see what needs to be done, because it would open up a lot of new things for me.
