Sunday 12 March 2017 18:18, UK
SSP Chawrasia's remarkable record at the Hero Indian Open continued as he stormed to a seven-shot victory to defend his title in some style.
Chawrasia finally claimed his national title last year after four previous runner-up finishes, and he was in a class of his own at the tough DLF Golf and Country Club as he cruised to his fourth European Tour win - all of them coming in his homeland.
The defending champion had got his final day off to a flying start when he returned to the course early on Sunday morning to complete his third round, held over following the adverse weather delays over the first two days in New Delhi.
Chawrasia put daylight between himself and the chasing pack with a run of three consecutive birdies from the 13th, and he parred in to complete a 68 to give himself a two-shot cushion at the top.
His closest challengers were unable to stay in contention in difficult scoring conditions, and Chawrasia coasted to a 71 to finish on 10 under, comfortably clear of Gavin Green as only seven players finished the tournament under par.
Chawrasia hit back from bogeys at six and seven with back-to-back birdies to close out a front-nine 35, and a further birdie at the 13th effectively put the result beyond doubt as his rivals faded down the stretch.
A bogey at the last mattered little as Chawrasia became the first Indian player to successfully defend a European Tour title, and the 38-year-old said: "I'm winning back-to-back so I'm really very happy.
"I was very happy to have everyone supporting me and having my wife here too to see me winning the Indian Open two times back to back. I'm just very, very happy. I learned many things this week and hopefully I can play better in Europe. That's my target next, I have to win in Europe.
"This is probably my best win of my career as it was a really tough course. This week, I made less mistakes and others made more mistakes."
Green won the race for second despite dropping shots at two of the last five holes to card a closing 75, finishing a shot ahead of Matteo Manassero (73) and Scott Jamieson (72).
Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello worked hard to close with a 71 and finish under the card alongside former champion Anirban Lahiri, while David Horsey slipped into a share of eighth - his challenge having been undone by a pair of double-bogeys over the late stages of his third round.
Eddie Pepperell had started the day in a share of the lead with Chawrasia and Carlos Pigem, but the Englishman plummeted down the leaderboard after a torrid finish to his third round.
Pepperell started the day with a bogey at the 12th, and he double-bogeyed the next before leaking further shots at 14 and 16. And he wasn't done there, closing with an ugly seven at the last to card a 78.
He managed only one birdie in his final-round 76 which saw him end the tournament outside the top 20 on five over par, with Stephen Gallacher one further adrift.
