Chawrasia beats course odds, takes slim lead
There were two sides to SSP Chawrasia on Friday. The familiar one went about the task with a bowed head, telling himself all the time that aggression was best left anywhere but the DLF Golf & Country Club here. The other half, rarely on view, reacted sharply to an attempt at scrutiny of his ways.
Chawrasia is still learning what works here, but that is expected given the players’ unfamiliarity with this course. Two days into the Hero Indian Open, some understanding has been acquired and it reflected on the scorecard.
CLUBHOUSE LEAD
At five-under 67, he has the clubhouse lead after the threat of lightning disrupted play again. Even-par at the start of the day, it was a marked improvement, and staying bogey free showed his method of being conservative off the tees had worked.
While he insists “this (course) is nothing like what I’ve encountered anywhere”, shades of resemblance with the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), where he won last year, are there.
“If DGC is narrow, this one’s narrower, plus the water hazards make ball placement the key here too. Getting to the green in good time, the attempt is for birdie; if not one’s happy to move on with par.”
Such was the focus on execution that the gathering of clouds and claps of thunder went unheard.
He even had trouble recollecting greens in regulation. It was one shot at a time, and whichever way it went, he let nothing affect him. Not even the miss from about two feet on the 9th which would have given him a two-shot lead. “I’m not even thinking about it.”
CRUCIAL PUTTS
What stayed on were the long putts for birdie on the 5th and 8th as they were deemed crucial.
Amid the talk of his ‘rivalry’ with Anirban Lahiri, especially at DGC, Chawrasia was asked what was it that had him playing well at home.
On most occasions, Chawrasia would have let it pass, but not this time. Looking the questioner in the eye, he shot back, “I play well outside as well.”
The reference was to the win in Manila towards the end of last year. He let it stay at that as the hooter signalling stoppage of play got his attention. Life on tour can be tough and scheduling plays a part.
Amid the disruption, Chawrasia was thankful to have finished this time. “I woke up at 4 today (he had three holes to go of Round One), so I can get some rest.” I have not had much play in the second round, which could not be finished following loss of twoand-a-half hours on Friday. That was in addition to 90 minutes on Thursday. So, we won’t even know the cut before Saturday afternoon. In the meantime, my friend SSP Chawrasia has been on a roll. After having contended for last three editions, including winning it last time, he is perched alone on top of the leaderboard.
His bogey-free 67 was pure class. There really is something about the Hero Indian Open that gets him going and we are getting to see that again. Who knows SSP could well be the man on Sunday once more.
The conditions have been very testing and even then SSP has shown himself to be a cut above the others. While all else around him are having a tough time, he came back with a second round of 67 that puts him at five-under for two rounds. That was just amazing. I caught some of his play while waiting. He missed a couple of really short ones, one of them from just two feet on his closing ninth hole. If he had got them he would have opened a real handy lead. SSP has found a lot of fairways, kept the ball in play and as is his style, he has chipped and putted nicely. That has paid rich dividends. We have all tried the same, but he has actually succeeded in doing it.
Waiting and weather stoppages are something we golfers have learnt to live with. But even then it is never easy.
The second day was spent more in waiting than playing. After an early first round, which did not finish for almost half the field, the round spilled into Friday, disturbing the whole draw.
I had not even played half my second round by end of Friday. After a 76 in the first round, the second round is rather crucial because I need to make up a lot of ground to just stay in.