Indian Masters:India's SSP Chowrasia claimed the biggest title of his career today after winning the Indian Masters by two strokes ahead of Ireland's Damien McGrane.
The 29-year-old, who finished 32nd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year in just his second season, carded no bogeys in a five-under-par round of 67 to collect a cheque for $416,660 after making just over $120,000 in 10 years previously on the Asian Tour.
Chowrasia, an eight-time winner on the domestic Indian Tour, lost in a play-off to compatriot Jyoti Randhawa in the 2006 Indian Open at the tight tree-lined Delhi Golf Club, but held his nerve over the final round and lived up to his nickname 'Chipputtsia' with excellent work on and around the greens in the Indian capital.
After finishing at nine under par overall in the co-sanctioned event, he became the third Indian player to win on the European Tour following in the footsteps of Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh.
"On the back nine I tried to make my pars and I am glad I was able to do that. Over the last five holes I did think about winning and I just wanted to stay calm and focus on my target. I feel like I have played very well and stayed calm," said Chowrasia, who earns a two-year exemption on the European Tour.
"I never thought that I could win this tournament, but I don't know what I'm going to do in the future. I am sure I will play more both in Asia and Europe, but my ultimate target is to get onto the US Tour."
McGrane, who played with world number one Tiger Woods over the weekend in Dubai before slumping down the leaderboard with a disastrous final round, signed for a 70 courtesy of a birdie at the last to claim his best European Tour finish, but was left to rue a bogey at his penultimate hole.
Former Hong Kong Open champion Jose Manuel Lara (72) of Spain claimed third at five under, a shot clear of overnight leader Raphael Jacquelin of France (74) and India's Digvijay Singh (70).
World number four Ernie Els (71), Dane Thomas Bjorn (71), India's Gaurav Ghei (71), Holland's Maarten Lafeber (72) and Basildon-born Ross McGowan (72) rounded out the top 10 at three under par.
