<p> Rashid Khan launched his first full Asian Tour career with a thrilling victory in the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open as he edged out Bangladesh’s Siddikur in a play-off at the Delhi Golf Club here on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Both players finished the regulation 72 holes 18-under par 270, six strokes ahead of Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg. Carlos Pigem of Spain, Swiss Martin Rominger and India’s SSP Chowrasia finished tied fourth.<br /><br />In the first extra hole, Rashid went for an aggressive all-or-nothing approach shot from the fairway after to place the ball just 20-feet from the pin. He missed the eagle putt but still made a birdie.<br /><br />Siddikur, on the other hand, took three shots to reach the green and could only make par after missing out on a 10-feet birdie putt. He carded three-under 69 in the final round.<br /><br />“This is a special win for me because it came at my home course. I had lost last year. So it was really important,” said he 23-year-old Rashid, who managed a final round of 71.<br /><br />“The way I played on the first day, I was confident but Siddikur played very well in last two days and at the end the title came in a play-off. I am happy,” Rashid, who became richer by $54,000, added.<br /><br />He had lost to Anirban Lahiri in a play-off at the same event last year here playing on the PGTI card.<br /><br />Two-time defending champion Lahiri, Asian tour winner Jyoti Randhawa, Abhijit Singh and Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera signed off tied eighth at nine-under 279.<br />Starting the day under a laden sky on a chilly Saturday morning, Rashid finished the third round at three- under 69 to hang on to a two-stroke lead over Siddikur, who turned in a five-under 67 for the third successive time.<br /><br />However, Rashid’s fortunes tumbled early in the fourth round as Siddikur caught up with the Indian at 17-under after firing an eagle on the first hole.<br /><br />But Siddikur then stumbled on a bogey-birdie patch at the third and fourth holes as Rashid once again gained a one-stroke lead when he scored a birdie on the seventh hole. But a bogey on the ninth, meant the duo were once again on an even keel.<br /><br />A 13th hole bogey by Rashid took Siddikur atop the leaderboard once again. But a lucky birdie at the 17th hole helped him to claw back as the duo birdied the 18th to take the match into the play-off.<br /><br />“I want to thank my family and friends but special thanks to Ashok Kumar, who helped me change a few things in my swing and I really hit the ball well,” Rashid said.<br /><br />The Delhi golfer lost a few play-offs in the past and he said he was happy he could pull off this time. “I played seven play offs in last 14 months and won only three. <br /><br />Even the last event I lost in a play-off at BILT Open. So I was scared. It was 50-50 for me. With this victory, Rashid will receive a three-year exemption from Asian Tour and the Indian said it means a lot to him.<br /><br />Leading scores (after 72 holes, Indians unless mentioned): 270: Rashid Khan (61, 69, 69, 71), Siddikur Rahman (Ban, 67, 67, 67, 69. Rashid wins via play-off. 276: Rikard Karlberg (Swe, 71, 70, 67, 68); 277: Carlos Pigem (Eng, 69, 71, 69, 68), SSP Chowrasia (68, 69, 72, 68), Martin Rominger (Sui, 72, 63, 70, 72); 278: Steve Lewton (Eng, 68, 70, 68, 72); 279: Abhijit Chadha (68, 73, 69, 69), Jyoti Randhawa (71, 69, 70, 69), Anirban Lahiri (70, 66, 69, 74), Mithun Perera (SL, 66, 68, 73, 72).</p>
<p> Rashid Khan launched his first full Asian Tour career with a thrilling victory in the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open as he edged out Bangladesh’s Siddikur in a play-off at the Delhi Golf Club here on Saturday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Both players finished the regulation 72 holes 18-under par 270, six strokes ahead of Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg. Carlos Pigem of Spain, Swiss Martin Rominger and India’s SSP Chowrasia finished tied fourth.<br /><br />In the first extra hole, Rashid went for an aggressive all-or-nothing approach shot from the fairway after to place the ball just 20-feet from the pin. He missed the eagle putt but still made a birdie.<br /><br />Siddikur, on the other hand, took three shots to reach the green and could only make par after missing out on a 10-feet birdie putt. He carded three-under 69 in the final round.<br /><br />“This is a special win for me because it came at my home course. I had lost last year. So it was really important,” said he 23-year-old Rashid, who managed a final round of 71.<br /><br />“The way I played on the first day, I was confident but Siddikur played very well in last two days and at the end the title came in a play-off. I am happy,” Rashid, who became richer by $54,000, added.<br /><br />He had lost to Anirban Lahiri in a play-off at the same event last year here playing on the PGTI card.<br /><br />Two-time defending champion Lahiri, Asian tour winner Jyoti Randhawa, Abhijit Singh and Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera signed off tied eighth at nine-under 279.<br />Starting the day under a laden sky on a chilly Saturday morning, Rashid finished the third round at three- under 69 to hang on to a two-stroke lead over Siddikur, who turned in a five-under 67 for the third successive time.<br /><br />However, Rashid’s fortunes tumbled early in the fourth round as Siddikur caught up with the Indian at 17-under after firing an eagle on the first hole.<br /><br />But Siddikur then stumbled on a bogey-birdie patch at the third and fourth holes as Rashid once again gained a one-stroke lead when he scored a birdie on the seventh hole. But a bogey on the ninth, meant the duo were once again on an even keel.<br /><br />A 13th hole bogey by Rashid took Siddikur atop the leaderboard once again. But a lucky birdie at the 17th hole helped him to claw back as the duo birdied the 18th to take the match into the play-off.<br /><br />“I want to thank my family and friends but special thanks to Ashok Kumar, who helped me change a few things in my swing and I really hit the ball well,” Rashid said.<br /><br />The Delhi golfer lost a few play-offs in the past and he said he was happy he could pull off this time. “I played seven play offs in last 14 months and won only three. <br /><br />Even the last event I lost in a play-off at BILT Open. So I was scared. It was 50-50 for me. With this victory, Rashid will receive a three-year exemption from Asian Tour and the Indian said it means a lot to him.<br /><br />Leading scores (after 72 holes, Indians unless mentioned): 270: Rashid Khan (61, 69, 69, 71), Siddikur Rahman (Ban, 67, 67, 67, 69. Rashid wins via play-off. 276: Rikard Karlberg (Swe, 71, 70, 67, 68); 277: Carlos Pigem (Eng, 69, 71, 69, 68), SSP Chowrasia (68, 69, 72, 68), Martin Rominger (Sui, 72, 63, 70, 72); 278: Steve Lewton (Eng, 68, 70, 68, 72); 279: Abhijit Chadha (68, 73, 69, 69), Jyoti Randhawa (71, 69, 70, 69), Anirban Lahiri (70, 66, 69, 74), Mithun Perera (SL, 66, 68, 73, 72).</p>