India’s Anirban Lahiri won his second European Tour title in the space of three weeks, just three months after earning his card at the qualifying school.
Lahiri, who won the Malaysian Open a fortnight ago, began the final round of the Hero Indian Open seven shots off the lead but a closing 69 was enough to force extra holes as overnight leader SSP Chawrasia stumbled to a 76.
The home pair returned to the par-five 18th for the play-off and with Chawrasia unable to make par after hooking his tee shot into the trees, Lahiri made certain of victory with a 10 foot putt for birdie.
The win solidifies Lahiri’s place in the top 40 of the world rankings and effectively secures a trip to Augusta. The top 50 on March 30 qualify for the year’s first major.
“It’s incredible,” Lahiri said in an interview broadcast on Sky Sports 4.
“It’s been a childhood dream and to now keep the Indian Open trophy at home is very, very special.”
Swede Joakim Lagergren, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera and Australian Marcus Fraser all finished one behind on six under, with Perera the only player to birdie the par-five 18th.
Marksaeng three-putted the last for par, while Fraser held the outright lead on nine under par after 12 holes only to double-bogey the 13th and drop another shot on the 16th.
Leading scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 71):
277 SSP Chawrasia (Ind) 65 67 69 76, Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 73 65 70 69 (Lahiri won play-off)
278 Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 68 70 69 71, Joakim Lagergren (Swe) 65 71 73 69, Mithun Perera (Aus) 67 72 70 69, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 69 70 67 72
279 Richard McEvoy 70 67 72 70, Romain Wattel (Fra) 70 74 67 68, Siddikur Rahman (Ban) 65 68 70 76
* World No 1 Lydia Ko carded a final round of 71 to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
The 17-year-old New Zealander began the day tied for the lead with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn.
Korea’s Amy Yang pulled level with Ko but then bogeyed the 15th and 17th to allow her rival to ease to victory by two shots.
Jutanugarn struggled to a closing 76 to finish three shots further back in third place.