KHALIN CLAIMS PANASONIC OPEN CROWN, EYES EUROPEAN CARD
NEWDELHI: Now that Khalin Joshi has won the Panasonic Open and “slowing down” on the golf course was the key behind his one-shot win at the Delhi Golf Club, he promised to slow down while speaking as well.
The breakthrough on the Asian Tour is big, so is any victory, but there has been a tendency to rush through with observations when the going’s been good. The promise wasn’t kept but he could be excused as a monkey was off the back. “I have been knocking on the door since the day I turned pro,” said Khalin after becoming the fifth Indian to win on Asian Tour this season.
The 26-year-old struggled to hide the excitement, but the start to Sunday was anything but pleasurable. Two-over after three holes set him back after starting with a share of the lead with Siddikur Rahman. Previously, it could have had a cascading effect; not this week. The bogeys on the 1st and 3rd were seen as “getting done with the bad holes early on”, and going back to work.
The downhill putt for birdie on the 8th got the momentum going and but for the tee shot on the 16th, when it clipped the tree on the way, there were no major concerns. Khalin, tied for the lead, decided to use the driver on the 18th irrespective of the outcome. Even after the “shock of seeing the ball run away on the green”, there was no regret on the decision taken at the tee box.
Telling himself that a cool head and hot putter would see him through, Khalin prevailed with a 7-foot putt for birdie. His status in Asia secure, the focus is on securing his card on European Tour. Final top scores: 271: Khalin Joshi (71, 68, 64, 68); 272: Siddikur Rahman (67, 66, 70, 69) 274: A Sandhu (67, 67, 70, 70); S Yongcharoenchai (66, 67, 72, 69).