Stephen Gallacher, Hero Indian Open 2019 Champion with Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp
Harpal Singh Bedi / Gurugram
First-round joint leader Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher survived a quadruple-bogey disaster and staged a stunning comeback carding three birdies in last four holes for one under 71 fourth round to pip Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura by a shot to claim the $1.75 million Hero Indian Open Golf at DLF Golf and Country Club here on Sunday
Gallacher’s aggregate of nine-under-par 279 give him a one-shot lead over Kawamura. The 44-year-old scot held his nerves round where he recovered from a horrible quadruple-bogey on hole seven to take home a winner’s prize purse of US$291,660.
Kawamura had a chance to force a play-off with Gallacher at the last but could not take it into extra time as he could only make par. The Japanese settled for second place on his own following a 73.
“ I was chasing the lead and was three behind to start the day. I got off to a slow start and then made a quadruple bogey but I was very calm, saw that I was only 5 behind. I told myself just stick in there. You never know on this golf course, it can turn around very quickly given how tough its playing and then I went three under in the last three holes.” The scot said after the win.
About the quad bogey, he said “ I actually forgot all about it. It was a tough pin and I was trying to get my drive as long as possible as it was downwind and it ended up left against the fence on the left. Changed club to a three wood and the next shot I lost the ball as well so I went back to start again. Got on the green and two-putted that.
Local favourites Rashid Khan (70) and S. Chikkarangappa (74) finished as the highest-placed Indians in tied-10th position .
Finland’s Kalle Samooja aced the 12th hole from 127 metres with his pitching wedge, marking the first time in the history of the Indian Open that three hole-in-ones were made in the same year.
S.Chikkarangappa (74-70-66-74), who had raised hopes of the home fans by finishing tied 6th after the third round failed to produce the same form and returned a poor 2 over 74 last round to slip to four place down the rung.
Chikka had double bogeys on the 5th and 10th and he also drop a stroke on14th. He hit three birdies and with an aggregate of 4 under 214 shared the tied place with 7 others including compatriot Rashid Khan and overnight joint leader Sihwan Kim.
Young Rashid Khan (72,70,72,70) who was tied 21st after a 72 on Saturday came up with much improved showing firing two under last round which propelled him to tied 10th with a total of 4 under 284.
Playing steady golf Rashid hit birdies on the 2nd and 9th but dropped strokes on 5th and 8th to go out at par 36. Coming back he started with a bogey but recovered his ground by hitting two successive birdies on the 11th and 12th to complete his round at 70.
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Two-time European Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma, who was overnight tied 15th had poor last round day as he carded three over par 75 to tumbled 12 places to end tied 27 at par 288.
Shubhankar Sharma (69-73-71-75) unlike yesterday when recovered well after an early double-bogey, could not do the encore on the last. He had two double bogeys on the 8th and 14 and he also missed shots on the11th and 12th. His three birdies on 2nd, 15 and 18th reduced the gap to some extend in this round.
Gaganjeet Bhullar had a one under 71 round and that took him up 24 place to end at tied 39 with three over 291
Former champion SSP Chawrasia tied 47 overnight returned three over 75 round and with a tournament total of four over 292 ended two places above at tied 45.
Ajeetesh Sandhu (74,71,73,75) with three over par last round stayed put at tied 54 with five over 293 total .Gaurav Pratap Singh and Rahil Gangjee were tied 69 at 13 over 301.