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Hero Honda Indian Open
Rikard Karlberg, Overrules Delhi
“It feels just amazing. I feel so comfortable when
I’m here. Even when I was struggling today, I felt
confident. I am really thankful for the support from
the fans and I really like it here, to sink the chip, it
feels amazing. If you gave me 100 times, I wouldn’t
sink it so many. I was so lucky that the pin was in
the way as it came out a bit hot. This is my biggest
win and it feels just amazing,” Rikard Karlberg
It is still fresh in our memory when in
his two-time visit to Indonesia this
year, Thai rookie player, Thanyakorn
Khrongpha, triumphantly took home
the winning trophy of two Kariza’s
events from different courses. Undoubtedly,
the name Indonesia was engraved in the
record of his tour career .
The same thing happened to Sweden Rikard
Kalberg in this tour season. In the last eight
months, he victoriously won two titles in India. And it became a very special victory to him as
he won at the same course and tournament
series in his first year on Asian Tour.
Delhi Golf Club is likely to always be the most
histroical course in Rikard Karlberg’s life when
last December 5, he dramatically finished his
game by placing his ball on the marquee area
at the edge of hole 18th par 5 . Actually he
was ahead by one stroke from Korean Baek
Seuk-Hyun , who was the overnight leade.
With that score , he needed two-shot swing
to force Seuk-Hyun into the play off.
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After taking a free drop, Karlberg sank a
chip-in. And that could not make Baek Seuk-
Hyun‘s two-putt par taking down Karlberg’s
position from the top of the leaderboard as
the winner.
“It feels just amazing. I feel so comfortable when
I’m here. Even when I was struggling today, I felt confident. I am really thankful for the support
from the fans and I really like it here,” said the
Swede who just turned 24 four days before.
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“To sink the chip, it feels amazing. If you gave
me 100 times, I wouldn’t sink it so many. I
was so lucky that the pin was in the way as
it came out a bit hot. This is my biggest win
and it feels just amazing,” said Karlberg who
totaled 11 under par (277).
The local player, Manav Jaini who held the
lead on the back nine with 5 birdies , was
very disappointed with his performance on
the last round. His lack of experience to be on
top of the leaderboard in a big event might
have given him a big pressure. He slid down
the leaderboard after wedged bogeys on the
10th ,16th, and 17th and shared the T3 with
his countryman Shiv Kapur.
“I’m very disappointed. I didn’t hit it badly
through 18 holes. Just made a few wrong
decisions. On 17 (which he bogeyed), I went
for the flag when I should have gone for the
heart of the green,” said Jaini , filled with
deep frustration.
It was an ironic moment for Manav Jaini
who played on his home course but let his
chance of victory slip to the Sweden Rikard
Karlberg who showed his glorious triumph
by defeating the course twice in a year. |
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