Chowrasia chasing first win

India’s young talent S.S.P Chowrasia, last year's surprise package, hopes to slingshot his way to stardom when he tees off at the season-opening Pakistan Open next week.

His sublime performance on the Asian Tour in 2006 has inspired Chowrasia to reach for the stars and a win in Karachi would be the perfect start after two near misses in the last six months.

“My performances have been very good. I lost in the play-off for the Hero Honda Indian Open title but I was happy. I'm now looking forward to 2007 as I'll be determined to win my first title,” said Chowrasia.

His title ambitions will be put to good test at one of Karachi’s oldest golf courses, the Karachi Golf Club. The Pakistan Open will include the likes of defending champion Chris Rodgers of England, India's Amandeep Johl and Gaurav Ghei, American Anthony Kang, who was the Birdie Leader winner last season, and Qualifying School champion Ben Leong of Malaysia.

Chowrasia, the son of a greenkeeper, chalked up three top-10s that included a tied eighth at the Bangkok Airways Open. He was heartbroken at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters when he led by three shots after two rounds but was later disqualified when officials discovered he had failed to sign his scorecard.

Displaying traits of a future champion, the 28-year-old bounced back with a joint runner-up finish in his home Open, losing in a play-off to compatriot Jyoti Randhawa. He had a putt from 15 feet at the 72nd hole to seal a famous victory but missed the chance.

Chowrasia then wrapped up a highly successful rookie season with a tied 10th finish at the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok and finished 38th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit.

“I'm certainly proud that I've managed to finish inside the top-60 on the UBS Order of Merit. When I started the year, I made every cut (nine in a row) and my confidence grew.

“Guys like Rahil Gangjee, Gaurav, Uttam Singh and Digvijay Singh have helped me a lot on Tour. Any problem that I had, they were there for me,” said the Calcutta-born talent.

“I think I've improved a lot. The standard of play is high on the Asian Tour and I have to practice hard to keep up with the growing standards of the game, but eventually I hope to attain my goal of a maiden win," said Chowrasia.

The Pakistan Open is the curtain-raising event for the 2007 Asian Tour season which has reached another milestone with a minimum 29 tournaments and an all-time high of US$26 million in total prize money.

January 12, 2007

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