Thai golfer wins Indian Open by defeating the Scot via playoff; Shiv Kapur best-placed Indian at fourth
In the end, it was nothing but pure thrill that could put Alistair MacLean to shame. After leading for three rounds, Scotsman Richie Ramsay had to be content with second place as Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant lifted the Indian Open trophy after a playoff here on Sunday. Both finished at 14-under 270. Wiratchant carded five-under 66 for the day, while Ramsay got a three-under 68.
The crowd at the Karnataka Golf Association surely got their fill of Sunday afternoon entertainment as Wiratchant got the bogey he needed, while Ramsay missed the bogey putt in the playoff. Maybe, it was pressure that got to Ramsay at the very end. He was in the lead throughout the tournament and even on the last day, when Wiratchant and Panupol Pittayarat were on the charge, the Scot seemed to be comfortably cruising towards the title.
Wiratchant birdied on the 18th hole that put him at 14-under. However, to the Thai golfer’s good fortune, Ramsay bogeyed the 18th and the issue was forced into the playoff for the title. The playoff was even more dramatic. Ramsay’s first shot saw the ball go into the trees and end up in water. Wiratchant got the ball on the fairway but his follow-up shot landed in the bunker. He had to be content with a bogey and had to wait for the outcome of Ramsay’s game. When Ramsay’s missed his bogey putt, there was a big smile on Wiratchant’s face. He had just won the third title of the season and his 15th Asian Tour title. He also moved to the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“I never thought I was going to win because my driver is not good enough. I expected to finish in the top five,” said Wiratchant, who pocketed Rs1 crore. “I’m happy to win again this year. I didn’t think I could win because Gaganjeet (Bhullar) was the in-form player this week. But when Richie hit it into the water, I thought I had a very high potential of winning.”
Shiv Kapur, who finished fourth with a 12-under 272, was the best placed Indian while Bangalore’s Anirban Lahiri finished tied fifth with a score of 10-under 274. Bangalore’s S Chikkarangappa, with a three-under 281, was presented a trophy for the best amateur in the field.
Final scores
-14: Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha, 69-68-67-66), Richie Ramsay (Sco, 66-66-70-68)
-13: Panupol Pittayarat (Tha, 67-68-69-67)
-12: Shiv Kapur (Ind, 67-71-68-66)
-10: Anirban Lahiri (Ind, 70-71-66-67), Arnond Vongvanij (Tha, 71-67-67-69), Jaakko Makitalo (Fin, 67-68-68-71)
-9: Peter Hanson (Swe, 70-71-68-66), Chiragh Kumar (Ind, 69-71-67-68)
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