Indian cops RWMM title via playoff

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines – S.S.P. Chawrasia of India bested Sam Chien of the US in the second extra hole to rule the $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters at the Manila Southwoods here yesterday.

The 38-year-old Chawrasia, who was three strokes off the pace entering the final round, tapped in a birdie from a missed 15-foot eagle putt to clinch the title, the red jacket, the beautifully-crafted trophy and the top purse worth $180,000.

After hitting his final shot, he clenched his right fist, shook hands with Chien, gamely allowed a countryman to pour water on him and then acknowledged the loud and appreciative crowd in this breathtaking layout crafted by Jack Nicklaus.

It was Chawrasia’s fifth victory in the Asian Tour and his first outside India following wins in the 2008 Emaar-MGF Indian Masters, 2011 Avantha Masters, 2014 Panasonic Open India and Hero Indian Open in March this year.

Interestingly, it was Chawrasia’s second Tour triumph he won via playoff since besting compatriot Rahil Gangjee and Sri Lankan Mithun Perera in the Panasonic Open India two years ago.

“Everyone was saying I’ve already won four times in India and yet to have won one outside it and I said that’s my goal,” said Chawrasia, who owns a total of 14 professional victories and represented his country in this year’s Rio de Janerio Olympics.

“I’m happy I finally won one here,” he added.

Chawrasia, who started to take up the sport at a very young age of 10 years old after seeing a golf course at Royal Calcutta Golf Club where his father worked as a greenskeeper, had to fight his way back from a three-stroke deficit to Thai Sutijet Kooratanapisan by firing a final day six-under 66 capped by a final hole birdie.

It propelled Chawrasia to a three-way tie on top with Chien and Malaysian Nicholas Fung, who had a 65 and 63, respectively, for identical 19-under 269s and a playoff.

Fung, who was cold and a little stiff after waiting for two hours for his two foes to finish, ran into a bogey mishap while Chawrasia and Chien hit birdies.

And then disaster struck Chien as he teed up straight to the trees while the 5-5 Chawrasia calmly hit the fairways for the title-clinching birdie.

Interestingly, Chawrasia had a chance to win it all in regulation when he missed an eagle-putt from the right bunker after the ball hit the lip of the hole before rolling three feet out to settle for a playoff-forging birdie.

It turned out it was only delaying the inevitable as Chwrasia just totally outshot his two rivals.

“Those were very good shots,” said Chawrasia, who climbed from No. 9 to No. 7 in the Order of Merit rankings with a total of $517,467.