SSP Chowrasia returns for his third European Tour victory at Avantha Masters
India’s top-ranked professional golfer, SSP Chowrasia is hoping to land his third consecutive European Tour title in India, at the coveted Avantha Masters this week.
Ranked 363rd on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), Chowrasia has won two European Tour titles among his blistering count of 12 professional victories in the course of his career.
The 33-year-old Chowrasia started off as a caddie on the Delhi Golf Club and later switched over to the sport making it a profession.
He turned professional in the year 1997 after spending an impressive tenure on the amateur circuit.
He has won eight professional titles in his home country and has remained in contention in several of the high profile events.
“I’ve been practising hard and I’m feeling really good,” said Chowrasia. “I’ve done a bit of work on my swing over the off-season and it’s paying off. I’m feeling very confident about my game”.
Chowrasia won his first European Tour event, the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters in 2008 and went over to card his second victory at last year’s episode of the Avantha Masters, taking over the Englishman Robert Coles by one shot.
The self-taught golfer has come a long way in his professional career and is ranked one of the best golfers in the country.
He added, “Last year was amazing to win in front of the home fans and great for Indian golf and Indian players. I was so happy. Golf in India is growing – cricket is number one but golf is the next fastest growing sport – and I hope my victory inspires more people to play”.
Avantha Masters is one of the biggest golfing events in India and is jointly sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
Starting off with a meagre income of $1,200 at the end of 1997, Chowrasia never lost hope of making it big both on the home course as well as on the foreign tours.
He joined the newly-born Asian Tour in 2006 after landing eight Indian titles and with an aggregate income of $36,983.
Indian Masters was his biggest to-date victory, which helped immensely with his confidence in himself and the sport.
Chowrasia now plays both on the Asian Tour as well as the European Tour but his primary ambition is to get into the PGA Tour in the course of his career.
Top professional players of the likes of Jeev Milkha Singh, also considered as the pioneer of the sport in the country, will also be part of the field.
The venue of the event, DLF Golf and Country Club, is a tree-lined Arnold Palmer design and is considered one of the best courses in the region.
Also part of the field at the €1.8 million event, are the famous players John Daly and Todd Hamilton, both of whom have won major titles.
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