Monday 21 March 2016 19:03, UK
Richard Kaufman reflects on SSP Chawrasia's heart-warming win at the Hero Indian Open, which bore remarkable similarities with Scott Hend's victory in Thailand the week before...
It's amazing how back to back events can transpire to repeat in some way.
The last two tournaments on the European Tour couldn't have been much different in terms of the backdrop. From a coastal resort in Thailand with a layout that favoured the biggest hitters, to a tight tree-lined course right in the middle of the capital of India where distance off the tee was no advantage whatsoever.
But there were some similarities in what unfolded. For both Scott Hend and SSP Chawrasia, redemption won the day. A year ag, Hend went into the final round at Black Mountain with the lead but an ordinary last 18 holes saw him just miss out on the title. Twelve months on, and this time the Australian didn't relent on his final-day lead.
In the 2015 Indian Open, Chawrasia blew a two-shot lead going into the final round with a Sunday collapse which ended with him in the fabled bushes of Delhi Golf Club at the first play-off hole, denied by the new Indian wonder that is Anirban Lahiri.
But a year later and this time Shiv Shankar Prad Chawrasia, to give him his full title, held onto to that final-day lead and it was Lahiri, this time, who would be denied. Redemption!
Something happened in those closing minutes that makes me proud to be associated with the game of golf. Lahiri was determined to beat the man who will probably turn it out to be his partner at this summer's Olympic Games, but Anirban also knew what guts Chawrasia had shown with that wedge at 18 to four feet.
The crowd cheered and amongst them clapping as loud as anyone with his hands above his head was Lahiri, the man Chawrasia was denying successive Indian Open titles. Wonderful sportsmanship in the heat of the battle.
Lahiri now moves on to Texas and the WGC-Dell Match Play, and he will then tee it up at the Masters as the flag-bearer of Indian golf. While SSP will give the European Tour another go, it is almost certain that he will struggle on quite a few of the layouts. How could he not when he averages just 260 yards off the tee?
But there will be weeks when he will surprise as he is armed with one of the sweetest short games around, and I have a feeling that anything from now is a bonus for Chawrasia.
After finishing a runner-up at his "fifth major" on four occasions, he can now call himself an Indian Open champion. Redemption indeed.
