JOIN USThis must be the sweetest column I will ever get to write. The new Hero Indian Open winner? That has a nice ring to it. I’m shocked. It will take sometime to sink in. It is incredible.
Starting the day, I didn’t think I had a chance. It was one of the toughest days ever where I’ve played at Delhi Golf Club. This has been a childhood dream so it is very special to keep the Hero Indian Open trophy at home. They are my sponsors, they started supporting me even before I had won my first title on Asian Tour and here I am with Mr Pawan Munjal receiving the Hero Indian Open Trophy and my second European Tour title.
The way Siddikur and SSP Chawrasia have been playing, it was hard to catch them. They were superb on the first three days.
Despite being seven behind SSP, personally I wanted to play well and give myself a chance on the back nine. It was an important week for me. The leaders had a tough break and I feel lucky and fortunate.
Honestly, it is hard to come to terms. Six weeks back, I was at Qualifying School so it feels like I’ve skipped a couple of steps to where I’m now.
This is the toughest I’ve seen DGC. It was very windy and it was not the usual wind when we come here. That’s the only reason why I had a chance today.
My heart goes out for SSP. He is a great friend and last year both of us stood together as tied second when Siddikur won. And today he was again second. I really hope that he gets another European Tour title and his card this year.
Today I didn’t know what was going on until reached the ninth green. I was walking up and my caddy said we have a chance. I asked him what is he talking about and he replied that SSP is having a bad round. That’s when I looked at the leaderboard and I was one shot behind.
When I made the turn, I was two back. It has happened here before. The fact that I’ve been in this similar situation on this golf course before really helped me.
I thought that Marcus Fraser holed that 15-footer for birdie (on 18th hole). I wasn’t aware that it was for par. In my head I was getting ready for a three-way play-off. I was definitely quite comfortable. I’ve been in a play-off four times here and I’ve won every other time so I felt quite comfortable.
The 12, 13 and 14 were the three toughest holes. I bogeyed 14 and dropped to six-under. I was talking to my caddy that if we get up to eight, we would have a chance.
In my mind I was trying to make birdies in the last four holes but it was more difficult than I had imagined.
Looking back and looking forward to what have and will happen. This is something that will take some time to sink in. I have to stay focus and ride the momentum. I got a slice of luck and that doesn’t happen often in everyone’s career where things go so well. I’m going to try to keep playing well and see what happens.