Tag Archives: Indian golfer Rashid Khan

Rashid prevails in play-off, wins maiden Asian Tour title

Sports, World Opinion, ,
Rashid Khan. —Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar / The Hindu
Rashid Khan. —Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar / The Hindu

Displaying nerves of steel, Rashid Khan fired three successive birdies, including one in the play-off against Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman, to win the $300,000 SAIL-SBI golf title at the Delhi Golf Club course here on Saturday.

Trailing by a stroke with just two holes remaining, Rashid played aggressively for a birdie-birdie finish to tie with Siddikur. On the first playoff hole, Rashid tapped in for birdie after Siddikur missed his birdie-putt.

The triumph, worth $54,000, was Rashid’s first on the Asian Tour.

Last year, this local pro lost the playoff to Anirban Lahiri but went on to top the domestic tour’s Order of Merit.

Rashid carded a one-under 71, his worst of the week, for an aggregate of 18-under 270, a tally that Siddikur managed following a 69 that came after three successive scores of 67.

On a day when Rashid played 29 holes, including 11 of the third round, Siddikur did not take long to stake his claim to the title. Starting the fourth round two strokes behind, Siddikur bridged the gap with an eagle on the opening hole. Though Rashid twice surged ahead, Siddikur soon caught up.

Rashid eventually trailed following a bogey on the 13th and a steady Siddikur stayed ahead until a dramatic birdie from the local pro set up a thrilling finish.

In Rashid’s words, “on the 17th, I actually hit a bad shot, but I don’t know how my ball pitched over the bunker and rolled to one-and-a-half feet to the flag… It was really lucky.”

Both players birdied the 18th to force the playoff. Rashid’s three-wood approach shot from 269 yards set up the birdie before Siddikur missed his birdie from 15 feet.

This breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour earned Rashid an exemption from playing qualifiers in the continent until the end of 2015.

Siddikur, winner of the prestigious Indian Open here in November last year, did not sound too disappointed.

“It was a good play-off. I played my game but, maybe, I should have played the driver. I had used the three-wood in the first four rounds and made birdie every day. But it wasn’t the case in the play-off.”

The scores:

Rashid Khan (61, 69, 69, 71), Siddikur Rahman (Ban) (67, 67, 67, 69) 270 (Rashid won on the first playoff hole); Rikard Karlberg (Swe) (71, 70, 67, 68) 276; Carlos Pigem (Esp) (69, 71, 69, 68), S.S.P. Chowrasia (68, 69, 72, 68), Martin Rominger (Sui) (72, 63, 70, 72) 277; Steve Lewton (Eng) (68, 70, 68, 72) 278; Abhijit Chadha (68, 73, 69, 69), Jyoti Randhawa (71, 69, 70, 69), Anirban Lahiri (70, 66, 69, 74) and Mithun Perera (Sri) (66, 68, 73, 72) 279.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports / by Special Correspondent / New Delhi – March 02nd, 2014

Rashid reigns supreme

Sports, World Opinion, , , ,

Indian kickstarts season with thrilling play-off victory.

RashidKhanMP05mar2014

Rashid Khan launched his first full Asian Tour career with a thrilling victory in the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open as he edged out Bangladesh’s Siddikur in a play-off at the Delhi Golf Club here on Saturday.

Both players finished the regulation 72 holes 18-under par 270, six strokes ahead of Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg. Carlos Pigem of Spain, Swiss Martin Rominger and India’s SSP Chowrasia finished tied fourth.

In the first extra hole, Rashid went for an aggressive all-or-nothing approach shot from the fairway after to place the ball just 20-feet from the pin. He missed the eagle putt but still made a birdie.

Siddikur, on the other hand, took three shots to reach the green and could only make par after missing out on a 10-feet birdie putt. He carded three-under 69 in the final round.

“This is a special win for me because it came at my home course. I had lost last year. So it was really important,” said he 23-year-old Rashid, who managed a final round of 71.

“The way I played on the first day, I was confident but Siddikur played very well in last two days and at the end the title came in a play-off. I am happy,” Rashid, who became richer by $54,000, added.

He had lost to Anirban Lahiri in a play-off at the same event last year here playing on the PGTI card.

Two-time defending champion Lahiri, Asian tour winner Jyoti Randhawa, Abhijit Singh and Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera signed off tied eighth at nine-under 279.
Starting the day under a laden sky on a chilly Saturday morning, Rashid finished the third round at three- under 69 to hang on to a two-stroke lead over Siddikur, who turned in a five-under 67 for the third successive time.

However, Rashid’s fortunes tumbled early in the fourth round as Siddikur caught up with the Indian at 17-under after firing an eagle on the first hole.

But Siddikur then stumbled on a bogey-birdie patch at the third and fourth holes as Rashid once again gained a one-stroke lead when he scored a birdie on the seventh hole. But a bogey on the ninth, meant the duo were once again on an even keel.

A 13th hole bogey by Rashid took Siddikur atop the leaderboard once again. But a lucky birdie at the 17th hole helped him to claw back as the duo birdied the 18th to take the match into the play-off.

“I want to thank my family and friends but special thanks to Ashok Kumar, who helped me change a few things in my swing and I really hit the ball well,” Rashid said.

The Delhi golfer lost a few play-offs in the past and he said he was happy he could pull off this time. “I played seven play offs in last 14 months and won only three.

Even the last event I lost in a play-off at BILT Open. So I was scared. It was 50-50 for me. With this victory, Rashid will receive a three-year exemption from Asian Tour and the Indian said it means a lot to him.

Leading scores (after 72 holes, Indians unless mentioned): 270: Rashid Khan (61, 69, 69, 71), Siddikur Rahman (Ban, 67, 67, 67, 69. Rashid wins via play-off. 276: Rikard Karlberg (Swe, 71, 70, 67, 68); 277: Carlos Pigem (Eng, 69, 71, 69, 68), SSP Chowrasia (68, 69, 72, 68), Martin Rominger (Sui, 72, 63, 70, 72); 278: Steve Lewton (Eng, 68, 70, 68, 72); 279: Abhijit Chadha (68, 73, 69, 69), Jyoti Randhawa (71, 69, 70, 69), Anirban Lahiri (70, 66, 69, 74), Mithun Perera (SL, 66, 68, 73, 72).

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / by PTI / New Delhi – March 01st, 2014

Golf: Rashid Khan triumphs at SAIL-SBI Open

Sports, World Opinion,

New Delhi:

Indian golfer Rashid Khan claimed a play-off victory over Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman at the SAIL-SBI Open with a birdie on the first extra hole Saturday.

The 23-year-old completed a memorable wire-to-wire victory at his home course, the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), which also atoned for his heartbreaking play-off defeat at the same event a year ago to countryman Anirban Lahiri.

Khan’s maiden Asian Tour victory was worth $54,000 after tapping in his birdie on the par five 18th hole as Siddikur could only make par in the season-opening $300,000 event.

“It feels awesome. It’s my home course and winning here is special. It’s amazing. I lost this event last year. The way I started on the first day with a 61, it was an amazing week. I don’t like play-offs. I played seven play-offs in the last 14 months and I won only three. It’s a lottery,” said a jubilant Khan, who carded a final round one-under-par 71 and totalled 18-under-par 270 for the week.

Khan needed a stroke of fortune in regulation play which forced extra time. He trailed Siddikur by one with two remaining but produced a lucky birdie on 17 to draw level. Both players birdied the 18th hole under immense pressure to take the tournament into a play-off.

File photo of Rashid Khan. AFP
File photo of Rashid Khan. AFP

Khan’s aggressive approach paid off when he produced an imperious three wood approach shot from 269 yards out which landed on the apron before taking two more shots to defeat Siddikur, who missed his birdie chance from 15 feet.

“On 17, I actually hit a bad shot, hit it right, but I don’t know how my ball pitched over the bunker and rolled to one and a half feet to the flag. I was shocked. It was really lucky,” said Khan, who will now be fully exempted on the Asian Tour until the end of 2015.

“I had to be aggressive in the play-off. I had to go for it. I took out the driver and hit a good shot in the middle of the fairway and then had about 269 yards to the flag. I went with a three wood and that was one of the best shots I’ve hit.”

When Round 3 was completed this morning, Siddikur trailed Khan by two but soon tied the Indian with an opening eagle. His hopes of a second title at DGC, after clinching the Indian Open in November, faded as he missed his long birdie chance.

Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, a two-time winner in Delhi, finished third after closing with a 68, six shots from the play-off duo, while S.S.P. Chowrasia of India, Spain’s Carlos Pigem and Martin Rominger of Switzerland shared fourth place on 277.

Two-time defending champion Anirban Lahiri, who was bidding to become the first man to win three straight titles at the same tournament, closed with a disappointing 74 for tied eighth with Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera (72) and countryman Jyoti Randhawa (69).

Leaderboard:
270 – Rashid Khan (IND) 61-69-69-71, Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 67-67-67-69.
(Khan wins play-off with birdie on the first extra hole)
276 – Rikard Karlberg (SWE) 71-70-67-68.
277 – Carlos Pigem (ESP) 69-71-69-68, S.S.P Chowrasia (IND) 68-69-72-68, Martin Rominger (SUI) 72-63-70-72.
278 – Steve Lewton (ENG) 68-70-68-72.
279 – Abhijit Chadha (IND) 68-73-69-69, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 71-69-70-69, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 70-66-69-74, Mithun Perera (SRI) 66-68-73-72.
280 – Rahil Gangjee (IND) 71-70-68-71, Chiragh Kumar (IND) 69-73-70-68, Arnond Vongvanij (THA) 74-69-67-70, Sutijet Kooratanapisan (THA) 71-72-69-68, Akinori Tani (JPN) 66-71-71-72, Scott Barr (AUS) 67-70-72-71.
281 – Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 69-73-69-70, David Lipsky (USA) 70-70-71-70, George Gandranata (INA) 68-70-71-72.

source: http://www.firstpost.com / FirstPost.Sports / Home> Sports / by Ashish Magotra / New Delhi – March 01st, 2014