Singapore 17 Nov(PTI) : Indian golfers were on the rise in this week’s Asian Tour Order of Merit list with young star Rashid Khan and veteran SSP Chowrasia moving inside the top-10 on the back of their impressive wins in Thailand and India respectively.
Khan and Chowrasia, placed eighth and ninth respectively, along with five-time Asian Tour winner Anirban Lahiri (second) are the three Indians who now feature prominently on the money list as the region’s premier Tour heads into its exciting stretch of the season where the battle for the merit crown intensifies.
Like Lahiri’s victory in Indonesia earlier in the year, Khan also won his first title outside India with a battling performance that saw him pip Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha and compatriot Jyoti Randhawa by one-shot at the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT over the weekend.
The 23-year-old, who has risen in the Order of Merit with earnings of USD 232,407, used to find success on the Asian Tour elusive having suffered the agony of missing out on his Tour card at Qualifying School for three consecutive years since 2011.
However he took advantage of limit playing opportunities and finally earned his career breakthrough on home soil at the season-opening SAIL-SBI Open presented by Incredible India.
Khan would then follow that up by winning again in Chiangmai.
Khan, who missed the cut at the Alpine Golf Resort Chiangmai just 12 months ago, credited his second Asian Tour win to perseverance, hard work and exposure.
“This win is really special because it is my second win this year and first outside of India. It was a really good week. I’m learning every single day. I’m playing on different courses on the Asian Tour.
“I played on this golf course last year and missed the cut by one shot. I played more golf courses for the first time on the Asian Tour and I learnt a lot from there. That experience really helped,” said Khan. .
PTI
