The Hindu : Sport : Rose blooms; Chopra finishes ahead of Vijay Singh, Hamilton

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 15, 2004

Sport

Sport

Rose blooms; Chopra finishes ahead of Vijay Singh, Hamilton

By Our Special Correspondent

Justin Rose who won the Bilts skins golf event in Gurgaon on Sunday.

GURGAON, NOV. 14. Justin Rose made the most of the proverbial `beginner's luck' to the hilt and upstaged World number one Vijay Singh and British Open champion Todd Hamilton to walk away with the lion's share of the $100,000 Bilts skins golf event at the DLF Golf and Country Club here on Sunday.

Vijay Singh, whose presence brought out a gallery of over 4,000 to the course, may have produced the shot of the day but failed to defend the title he won in 2002.

In fact, he was pushed to the third spot behind Daniel Chopra. Todd Hamilton went back empty-handed.

The 24-year-old Rose, 61st on the PGA Tour money list for the season and playing the skins format for the first time, gained $42,500 after winning the allotted amounts on 10 holes, including carried forward skins.

It was his putting that kept him ahead of the illustrious pack. In fact, Rose could have done even better only if a couple of more putts had dropped after kissing the cup.

It was meant to be a `fun' event and all the players did say in the end that they all had fun. But it was clear that Rose had more of it.

"I am delighted," said Rose, who also received a glittering trophy for his day's work. "I am glad I was able to knock in a few putts. I got into a good rhythm early on and made the most of it."

Vijay won the first and sixth holes before claiming the single-biggest prize of $16,000 following a playoff on the 18th hole.

Awesome shot

Earlier, Vijay produced, what was undoubtedly, the most awesome shot of the afternoon. After his tee-shot on the opening hole found the water-hazard to the right of the fairway, Vijay used the lob-wedge to mesmerising effect as sent the ball flying out of the water to about two feet from the pin. He rightly birdied the hole to gain the first `skin' worth $2,500.

Thereafter, it was Rose who bloomed all day. He birdied the second, third, fifth, eighth, 12th, 13th and 15th. In the process, he also collected the carried forward skins for the fourth, seventh and 14th holes.

Chopra, clearly the sentimental favourite of the day, collected $35,500, including an accumulated sum of $13,500 following a birdie on the 10th.

With the preceding two holes failing to produce a clear winner, Chopra's first `skin' proved to be a big one.

He went on to add another consolidated share of $22,000 by winning the 17th.

Vijay, as in 2002, won the final hole play-off with a fine birdie. "We all had a good day out there," said Vijay and quickly made his point to the crowd by adding, "forget your cellphones at home the next time around."

The earnings: 1. Justin Rose — $42,500, 2. Daniel Chopra — $35,500, 3. Vijay Singh — $22,000, 4. Todd Hamilton — nil.

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