Thomas Aiken receiving the Avantha Masters Trophy
Gaganjeet Bhullar
Greater NOIDA, March 17, 2013: Gaganjeet Bhullar waged a magnificent battle with a stunning eight-under 64, the best card of the final day, but still lost by three shots to the steady Thomas Aiken of
The 29-year-old
Aiken shot a bogeyfree 67 on the heels of a superb 62 on third day and totaled
a superb 23-under 265, while Bhullar, who had predicted a 20-under total for a
win, did reach that but was still well short.
It was the Aiken’s
second European Tour title, while Bhullar achieved his best ever European Tour
results, but that will carry him to he top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Aiken’s performance
on Saturday for a 62 was a ball-striking masterclass and on Sunday he carried
on and carded a 67.
Bhullar waged a
strong challenge, and so did China ’s
Liang Wen-chong (69), who also had the tournament’s only hole-in-one par-3
seventh. Liang finished at 18-under with the final round including five
birdies, two bogeys, one double bogey and one ace.
Kiradech
Aphinbarnrat (69) also posed a challenge at one stage, but Aiken stayed steady,
and the Thai ended at 17-under in fourth place.
Bhullar apart,
Himmat Rai (65) had the day’s second best round and finished in a tie for ninth
place at 14-under.
Among other
Indians, Jeev Milkha Singh (71), Rahil Gangjee (71) and Anirban Lahiri (71)
ended in a tie for 23rd, while Jyoti Randhawa (70) was tied 29th. Rashid Khan
cracked an error-free 66 and ended in a tie for tied 34th at nine-under.
Aiken said, “I’ve
been playing very nicely the last four months, not making a lot of mistakes, but
just not sinking enough putts.”
“This week a few went in, I hit some better
iron shots which gave me a better chance to sink some putts, and I played some
phenomenal golf.”
Bhullar said, “I
was actually worried before this week and then I spoke to my coach. We worked
on some of the mistakes I was making. We exchanged swing videos and he told me
what to do. The trick today was the way my putting worked. I got off to a great
start with three birdies and an eagle on fifth. It gave me the momentum that I needed.”
“I wanted to try
for a win and my caddie kept motivating me. Basically no one remembers the
second place guy after sometime. It is only the winner who stays in the history
books. Being second or 40th does not matter. For instance my friends, fans and
some may remember I was second here, but Thomas Aiken’s name will be there in
the books,” he added.
Bhullar
continued, “So I went for the flag on the 14th and was rewarded with a birdie.
I had another 40-feet conversion on the 17th. However, I couldn’t catch up with
Thomas who played a fabulous round. Aiken putted better and that made all the
difference. Thomas was simply superb. And then he holed a fine birdie to
finish in style.”
Bhullar came
with an aggressive plan as he revealed, “The plan was to hit 14 fairways and 18
greens and make all putts in order to have a chance. I thought I’d give it
hundred per cent when I started today. I was aggressive at the start and it
paid off with birdies on the first three holes and an eagle on the fifth. I drove
the green on the fifth for the third successive day and followed it up with a
40-feet putt.”
But he was put
back by a bogey on eighth. “The bogey on the eighth came at the wrong time for
me as I pulled my drive into the trees. I then sank birdies on the 10th, 14th,
15th and 17th,” he added.
If Aiken’s
brilliant third round was the catalyst for victory, there was still plenty of
work to do on the final day.
Bhullar came
flying out of the blocks, and looked as though he may add a European Tour title
to the Challenge Tour victory he recorded on home soil two years ago when he
followed birdies at the first three holes with an eagle at the 356 yard par
four fifth after driving the green.
Aiken’s playing
partner Liang also closed in with birdies at the second and fourth, but the
2011 Open de España winner responded by holing a six footer at the second to
remain two clear.
Aiken knocked in
an eight footer at the fifth to go to 20 under, and when Bhullar bogeyed the
eighth and Liang double-crossed his tee shot right into bushes at the sixth,
took a penalty drop, and eventually three-putted for a double bogey, the South
African was four ahead.
However, as
quickly as Liang’s title chances looked to have evaporated they reignited with
an eight iron ace at the short seventh which halved the deficit.
Bhullar birdied
three of the last five to set the clubhouse target at 20 under par, but Aiken
completed regulation birdies on both par fives on the back nine – he almost
eagled both – then sunk a 20-footer across the final green for a fitting
finale.
“These guys kept
coming at me today – Liang on the front nine and then Bhullar made some amazing
birdies coming in,” added Aiken. “It was by no means a walk in the park.
“I want to
dedicate this to my wife Kate – being the wife of a sportsman is not easy and
she supports me so much, so this one’s for you Kate.”
Bhullar’s
brilliant 64 gave him second, with Liang two shots further back in third
following a 69.
“I had a great
week in India ,” said Liang,
whose only European Tour victory remains the 2007 Singapore Masters. “Although
I did not win, I learnt a lot about myself, especially today. To card a
double-bogey on the sixth and make a comeback with a hole-in-one on the next
hole showed lots of character.
“Unfortunately I
could not make as many putts as I would to, but that’s golf. You win some and
you lose some. I tried my best and that’s all I can ever ask for.”
Press release
No comments:
Post a Comment