New Delhi: Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia — SSP to almost everybody — has set his sights on being only the second golfer after Jyoti Randhawa to successfully defend the Hero Indian Open title when the $1.75 million tournament begins at the DLF Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
The 38-year-old from Kolkata, a five-time Asian Tour winner, will however face a different challenge on the testing Gary Player layout having tasted success at the Delhi Golf Club.
Chawrasia, who won last year by two shots last year, will also face a challenge against the likes of Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain, the highest ranked golfer in the field at world number 26, 2015 Hero Indian Open champion Anirban Lahiri, current Asian Tour number one Scott Hend of Australia and the Thai duo of Kiradech Aphibarnrat and teenager Phachara Khongwatmai.
Cabrera Bello is a two-time winner on the European Tour but his last win came back in 2012. For the moment though, SSP is concentrating on getting his own game on track for the Indian Open. “I don’t think one player will make the whole tournament tough. Last year was the best of my career. I’m trying to do better in 2017. It’s still the start, it’s only my fifth tournament and I’m happy with how things are,” the golfer said.
