New Delhi, India, March 31: Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher staged a remarkable comeback by firing three birdies in his closing four holes to close with a one-under-par 71 and win the Hero Indian Open 2019.

It was the Scotsman’s first victory in Asia and his winning total of nine-under-par 279 was just enough to give him a one-shot triumph over Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura at the S$1.75 million event which was held at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Starting the round with a three-shot deficit, the 44-year-old Gallacher stayed patient to overcome a roller-coaster round where he recovered from a horrible quadruple-bogey on hole seven to take home a winner’s prize purse of US$291,660.

Kawamura had the opportunity to force a play-off with Gallacher at the last but could not take it into extra time as he could only make par. The Japanese settled for second place on his own following a 73.

Local prospects Rashid Khan (70) and S. Chikkarangappa (74) finished as the highest-placed Indians in tied-10th position at the event which was celebrating its 55th edition this week.

Finland’s Kalle Samooja aced the 12th hole from 127 metres with his pitching wedge, marking the first time in the history of the Indian Open that three hole-in-ones were made in the same year.

Did you know?

·       Stephen Gallacher claimed his first title on Indian soil and fourth European Tour title this week at the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour.

·       Gallacher fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing in The Ryder Cup in his home country of Scotland in 2014, forming part of the winning team for the European side.

·       With his son, Jack, on his his bag this week, the Scotsman hit nine fairways and 13 greens and totalled 29 putts.

·       Masahiro Kawamura finished runner-up on the Japan circuit three times last year.

·       Kawamura claimed his first Asian Tour victory at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in 2013 where he overcame a two-shot deficit to defeat Y.E. Yang.

·       The 25-year-old Kawamura finished tied-second at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open last May to earn his spot at the 147th Open.

·       With his second-place finish, Kawamura moved up three spots to take third place on the current Habitat for Humanity Standings.

·       Chikkarangappa won two events on the PGTI in the last four months. He won the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational in November of last year and claimed a two-shot victory at the Golconda Masters 2019 Powered By Telangana Tourism & Incredible India last month.

·       The Bengaluru-born golfer played in his first National Open when he was a 15-year-old amateur golfer. This marks his best result at the Indian Open.

·       Rashid Khan is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour. He claimed his breakthrough on homeground at the SAIL-SBI Open and won the Chiangmai Golf Classic by PTT later that year.

Ends.