Australia’s Marcus Fraser found himself leading home favourite S S P Chawrasia going into the closing holes of a thrilling final round at the Hero Indian Open.
Chawrasia, twice a winner at Delhi Golf Club, had looked set for a third European Tour title on home soil when he continued to master the tight, tree-lined layout over the first three days; a run of 52 holes without a bogey helping him take a two shot lead into day four.
But the 36 year old from India found trouble early on to allow first Siddikur Rahman, and then Fraser, to catch him.
Fraser chipped in at the 11th and at two under through 12 holes and nine under par for the week led by one from Chawrasia.
Another home favourite, Anirban Lahiri, and Siddikur – another course specialist with ten top-ten finishes in 11 starts here – were a shot further back in third, the latter having headed for home with a share of the lead but dropping back after a shaky start to the back nine.
Chawrasia’s overnight lead was wiped out swiftly as he paid the price for a wayward tee shot into the trees at the third with a bogey.
It got even worse at the next, with the World Number 204 again finding forest from the tee and this time having to take a penalty drop en route to a double bogey.
Fraser birdied the long first and made excellent up-and-downs at the third and fourth, joining Chawrasia in second as Siddikur took the lead with a run of pars.
Chawrasia needed only a par at the sixth to regain a share of the lead as Siddikur failed to get up-and-down from the side of the green.
Fraser also dropped a shot after finding a near-unplayable lie with his approach, while up at the short seventh Lahiri – who surged into contention with three birdies in his first five holes - bogeyed after missing the green to leave the leading pair two clear.
Chawrasia dropped a shot from the bunker at the seventh, but got it straight back with a lengthy two-putt at the par five next.
Fraser also gained a shot at the eighth after chipping to two feet to reach the turn only one behind the leading pair, who were immediately separated on the tenth when 30 year old Siddikur three-putted for a bogey.
Having retaken the lead, Chawrasia looked to have a chance of doubling it at the 11th when he fired his approach to ten feet and both Siddikur and Fraser missed the green.
But while Siddikur bogeyed, Fraser – whose last European Tour victory came in 2010 – chipped in and with Chawrasia only making a par the two were tied for the lead on nine under, with Lahiri and Siddikur two behind.
Fraser then went ahead when Chawrasia missed the green t the short 12th and failed to get up-and-down.
Things swiftly changed again at the 13th – Chawrasia’s par enough to restore his one shot lead as Fraser’s drive finished behind a small building in the trees. Despite a free drop, the 36 year old could only chop out sideways, and found a bunker with his third as he ran up a double bogey.
Siddikur also dropped a shot at the 13th and slipped into a tie for third with the likes of Daniel Chopra, Romain Wattel and Lahiri – who bogeyed the 14th – and all still had a chance of snatching victory.
Chawrasia then bogeyed the 14th after his approach finished well short of the green, but he responded in style with a birdie from 15 feet at the next to lead by one from Fraser and Lahiri, who fired his approach close at the 16th and birdied.
Lahiri chipped in from off the green to save par at the 17th, and that was good enough for a share of the lead as Chawrasia and Fraser bogeyed the 16th after missing the fairway.
But recent Maybank Malaysian Open winner Lahiri, the highest-ranked player in the field, missed the fairway at the last and could only flick his second out onto the fairway.
Meanwhile Swede Joakim Lagergren had set the clubhouse target at six under with a round of 69 – a total that was looking increasingly competitive.
