New Delhi: Chiragh Kumar wore a small smile as he watched Shiv Kapur scoop up the trophy — and daughter — on the 18th green of the Delhi Golf Club.
Two years ago, it had been his turn, and it is quite possible he shared the magic formula of “cuddle baby, win title” with his DGC mate as Kapur turned in a remarkable like-for-like performance to win the Panasonic Open India by a solid three strokes on Sunday.
In 2015, it was an identical margin that gave Chiragh the title. “That’s one big monkey off my back,” an emotional Kapur said as he came out of the scorer’s room to shake hands all around and collect his trophy, winner’s cheque and daughter Veda, though not necessarily in that order after carding a 69 for the day, his fourth straight round in the sixties.
Kapur later told a packed press conference, “I had dreamt and planned everything if I win here at DGC, but what I did not prepare for was the speech. So, it did get very emotional.
“It was always my dream to walk up that 18th fairway and putt out to win. And now to be able to do that is incredible. It has not sunk in and when I lie down and reflect on it tonight, maybe it will slowly sink in.”
Seven others took a share of second place on 14 under par 274, and overnight co-leader Paul Peterson was the only non-Indian name in the bunch. There was Chiragh (64), Ajeetesh Sandhu (65), Karandeep Kochhar (66), 2014 winner S.S.P. Chawrasia (69), Om Prakash Chouhan (69) and Sudhir Sharma (69).
Shamim Khan (72) and Honey Baisoya (68) finished in a tie for ninth place, nine Indians crowding the top 10.
Kapur’s win — his second Asian title of the year and third overall — also took him to the top of the Panasonic Open Swing, which spans five tournaments of which this was the second. At the Thailand Open, Kapur was second and events in Malaysia and Indonesia follow before the final round in Japan next year.
At one point, just one shot separated him from the chasing pack, and a dropped shot on the 10th hole could have proved costly. It, however, had the opposite effect as he reeled off four birdies over the next five holes to open up an unbridgeable gap.
“The birdies on 11th and 12th gave me a cushion and standing on 14th I told myself this was my tournament to win,” recalled Kapur. “I wanted to take it by the scruff and win. I went all out after that and went for the flags. When the birdies dropped on 14th and 15th for a three-shot lead I knew I had to play smart.”
Helping him was the fact that as the shadows grew longer, the challenge faded. Chawrasia, Chauhan, Sandhu and Sudhir Sharma all closed up but fell away when they needed to push. Kapur’s long putt on the 17th that saw him convert for par was the final nail in the coffin for his pursuers.
Said Chawrasia later, “It was a good week. I missed out by three shots but overall I’m playing well and that’s a good sign. I also chasing the Order of Merit title and playing for a place at the EurAsia Cup and that’s why I’m here.”
