Brilliant Bhullar wins Asian Tour International

BANGKOK - Gaganjeet Bhullar gave Indian golf a great present right at the start of the year with a brilliant course record of eight-under 64 and winning the season-opening Asian Tour International by one shot Sunday at the Suwan Golf and Country Club.

Bhullar, who won his maiden Asian Tour title last year, began the day six shots behind and produced one of the best come-from-behind victories on the Tour. It was his second title of the career.

Bhullar, who won the President Invitational last year, is only the sixth Indian player - after Ali Sher, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal and Gaurav Ghei - to win more than once on Asian Tour. When Ali Sher won the Indian Open in 1991 and 1993, the Indian Open was part of the old Asian Circuit and the Asian Tour was not formed.

“Its amazing. I have no words to describe it, Im totally speechless. When I woke up this morning, I just wanted to shoot a good number. I never ever thought I was going to shoot a 64 and win by one. Its like a dream coming true. Winning at the start of the season will give me a lot of confidence, said Bhullar, who pocketed US$47,550.

Realising that he needed the round of his life to land the title, the 21-year-old Bhullar sank an eagle and six birdies for an error-free card and edged out Koreas Hwang Inn-choon, who signed for a 69 for second place in the $300,000 event.

Bhullars charge began with an eagle at the par five second hole. He hit an eight iron approach shot, which stopped three feet of the flag. After nailing the eagle, he birdied the fifth, sixth and seventh in a row and then added another on ninth as he turned in six-under.

Another birdie on 15 for the outright lead and then on 18 brought him to 11-under par 277 to make him the clubhouse leader as three more grouped behind him.

Playing in the last group Hwang, who was also chasing his second Asian Tour win, was four clear of Bhullar at the start, turned in 33 to lead the field by one. But costly mistakes on 11 and 17 messed up his challenge. Hwang was in the hunt down the straight after overcoming a double bogey on 11 with birdies on 14 and 15. But an errant drive into the hazard on 17 for bogey left him with the tall order of having to eagle the par five last hole to force a play-off which he could only birdie.

Bhullar said: After 15 where I made a good curling putt, I told myself to make par on 16 and 17 and make birdie on 18. Everything happened the way I decided. On 18, it was amazing. I told myself that the putt was to win the tournament.

It was a crucial one as I had missed the same putt last the two days from the nearly same line. I had a bit of an idea that it would come from the right. I just got lucky. Im looking forward to next week (Avantha Masters).”

The burly Kiradech, who had held at least a share of the lead from the opening round, came home with two birdies, one bogey and one double bogey as his hopes of a maiden title vanished.

Japans Tetsuji Hiratsuka, runner-up last year, took third place with a 68 while Kiradech carded a 73 to finish tied fourth with Jbe Kruger of South Africa, three behind the winner.