Mukesh Kumar prevails in playoff

Seasoned golfer Mukesh Kumar brought his experience to the fore on the final day of the 14th Tata Open, as he emerged triumphant in a three-way playoff to take home the title and the winner’s cheque at the Golmuri Golf Course in Jamshedpur on Sunday.

Mukesh along with Vinod Kumar of Delhi and Noida’s Amardip Sinh Malik had ended the regulation 72 holes with totals of 15-under 269. The Mhow golfer finally sealed the '75 lakh event on the third extra hole with a four-feet par putt.

Chandigarh’s Sujjan Singh, Delhi’s Honey Baisoya and Vikrant Chopra of Noida took a share of fourth place at 13-under 271.

Mukesh’s win at the penultimate event of the season took him from the third place to the first in the Rolex Ranking as he took home a prize purse of '11,25,000.

Bengaluru’s S. Chikka-rangappa was placed second. “There was no pressure on me even after the bogey on the 18th. I just played it steady in the playoff. I feel my experience counted at the end,” said the 50-year-old Mukesh.

Mukesh (70-65-67-67) bagged his second win of the season, thanks to a solid performance through the week. His final round of four-under 67 featured seven birdies and three bogeys.

Mukesh, who won his third Tata Open title on the day, was one-under through the front-nine as he made three birdies against two bogeys.

He then put on a fantastic display of his wedge-play on the back-nine by landing it within four feet for three birdies.