‘Smart’ SSP showed how to play on this tricky course

There could not have been a more worthy or more deserving champion this week than S.S.P. Chawrasia. Humble, smiling and more importantly, one of the smartest golfers I have ever met.

He won the Hero Indian Open for the second time in succession and in what style — by seven shots and it was a dominating performance. Not even for a moment on the final day did he look in danger. He was in total control.

Through the week many of us felt that the golf course was a massive challenge, SSP showed how it could be played — he did it the smart way. He kept hitting straight — that’s also his style and he executed it well. And then his iron shots were near perfect as they kept landing in the right places.

He also putted so superbly and maybe the number of long putts that he holed were way more than most others. In the end, his smiling face and relentless focus made all the difference and it won him a second Hero Indian Open.

On this course, the only way to make headway is keep focus and stick to the task and not look at what anyone else does. Obviously SSP did it best and in the end he reaped the rewards for it.

One quick word on Anirban, he was fabulous. The way he came from close to the cutline to top-5 shows he is indeed world class and I am sure you will hear a lot from him from the PGA Tour.