New Delhi: Rashid Khan launched his Asian Tour career with a thrilling victory in the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open as he edged out Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman in the play-off at the Delhi golf Club 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.
Rashid went for an aggressive all-or-nothing approach shot from the fairway after his tee-shot to place the ball 20-feet away from the pin. He missed the 20-feet eagle putt but still made a birdie. Siddikur, on the other hand, took three shots to reach the greens and could only make the par after missing out of a 10-feet birdie putt.
He carded three-under 69 in the final round. The 23-year-old Delhi golfer broke into a wide smile and his friends celebrated in joy as Rashid launched his Asian tour career in style. "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 Rashid, who managed a final round of 71.
"The way I played on the first day, I was confident but Siddikur played very well last two days and at the end the title came in a play-off. I am happy," Rashid, who became richer by USD 54,000, added. He had lost the title to Anirban Lahiri in a play-off in 2013 in New Delhi playing on PGTI card.
Two-time defending champion Anirban, Asian tour winner Jyoti Randhawa, Abhijit Singh and Sri Lanka's Mithun Perera signed off at the tied eighth spot at nine-under 279. Karlberg (71, 70, 67) whose both Asian tour wins came at the Delhi Golf Club during the SAIL Open and Indian Open in 2010, carded a four-under 68. Pigem (69, 71, 69), who had finished 21st place in the last edition, also turned in a 68 to total 11-under 277.
