Talking points from the Hero Indian Open
A fine victory for S.S.P Chawrasia over defending champion Anirban Lahiri
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to Golf Monthly Newsletter Newsletter

S.S.P Chawrasia of India finally won his home open after four previous runner-up finishes. Chawrasia held off defending champion Anirban Lahiri at Delhi GC.
S.S.P Chawrasia led the Hero Indian Open through 54-holes, but defending champion Anirban Lahiri burst out of the blocks in the final round with three straight birdies from the opening hole.
In the 2015 Indian Open, Lahiri had defeated Chawrasia in a playoff for the title and S.S.P must have felt an ominous sense of a repeat performance when he dropped a stroke at the sixth and Lahiri joined him at the top of he board.
But Chawrasia struck back with a birdie at the 8th and the chasing pack were unable to get back on terms with the home player from that point on. The victory was sealed when Chawrasia played a great approach to the home hole and closed with a birdie.
“I was a four-time runner-up in this event and I was thinking for a long time, 'I have to win this tournament'. That's my dream and I got it,” he said after the tournament.
3 Talking points from the Hero Indian Open
1 – This was S.S.P Chawrasia’s third European Tour title and it’s an important one. With the victory, he has re-secured playing rights on the circuit having lost them by finishing 113th in last year’s Race to Dubai.
"This is very important for me because I get a full card and most probably I'm playing the Olympics and the World Cup also so it's very, very important for me," he said.
After four second place finishes in the Indian Open, 37-year-old Chawrasia finally has a win to his name. Chawrasia has participated in 16 professional competitions at Delhi GC and his record is exceptional. He has 10 top-10 finishes and two wins over the layout.
2 – Anirban Lahiri put on an excellent defence of his title. The 28-year-old could well move back into the top-50 on the Official World Golf Ranking following his tied second place finish in New Delhi. Although disappointed not to secure back-to-back wins in the event, he was delighted for his countryman Chawrasia. “I am so happy for S.S.P. This win is huge for him,” he said. “He hung tough and played very well and I’m really pleased for him.”
Nine Tour player practice drills:
3 – South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang fired a final round of 68 to tie Lahiri for second place. He was left to rue a disappointing second round of 74 that cost him a chance of victory. At just 20 years of age, Wang looks to be a great prospect. This was by far and away the South Korean’s best performance in a European Tour event – before this week his best finish was a tie for 14th in the 2015 Malaysian Open.
Click here to read the betsafe guide to strategic golf betting, by Fergus Bisset
Hero Indian Open Delhi GC, New Delhi, India Mar 17-20 Purse €1,500,000, par 72
1 S.S.P Chawrasia (Ind) 67 67 68 71 273 €246,589 T2 Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 68 71 67 69 275 €128,507 T2 Jeunghun Wang (Kor) 67 74 66 68 275 €128,507 T4 Adilson Da Silva (Bra) 72 66 69 69 276 €68,356 T4 Angelo Que (Phi) 70 71 70 65 276 €68,356 T6 Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 70 71 69 278 €41,576 T6 Daniel Im (USA) 65 74 70 69 278 €41,576 T6 Rashid Khan (Ind) 69 68 69 72 278 €41,576 T6 N Thangaraja (Sri) 69 71 68 70 278 €41,576
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
Fergus is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin (also of Golf Monthly)... Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
-
-
True Linkswear Lux Hybrid Golf Shoe Review
A shoe balanced to perform as well on the course as it does off it, is the True Linkswear Lux Hybrid the perfect hybrid golf shoe?
By Dan Parker • Published
-
Vessel PrimeX Plus Backpack Review
The PrimeX Plus backpack is another example of Vessel's high-quality craftsmanship
By Mike Harris • Published
-
Who Is Justin Thomas’ Wife?
The American star married Jillian Wisniewski in November 2022
By Matt Cradock • Last updated
-
Rory McIlroy Gym Routine... Revealed!
In this Rory McIlroy Gym Routine article we discover how the Northern Irishman keeps himself so fit
By Neil Tappin • Published
-
What Is Tiger Woods' Net Worth?
Tiger Woods became the first billion dollar athlete in 2009
By Elliott Heath • Last updated
-
The Masters Live Stream: How To Watch The Major
Here are all the details on how you can watch the Major wherever you are in the world.
By Sam Tremlett • Published
-
12 Things You Didn't Know About Gary Woodland
We get to know US Open Champion Gary Woodland a little better
By Sam Tremlett • Published
-
Five Outsiders Who Could Win The Masters
We consider five players who might surprise the favourites and claim victory at Augusta
By Fergus Bisset • Last updated
-
Who Coaches Tiger Woods?
Who has worked with the American over his career and who currently acts as his swing coach? We take a look.
By Sam Tremlett • Last updated
-
Who Is Tiger Woods’ Girlfriend?
Find out more on who the American professional golfer is going out with here.
By Matt Cradock • Last updated