Rikard Karlberg flew into New Delhi at 2am on his 24th birthday. Four hours later, he was already up for the Pro-Am of the Hero Honda Indian Open at the venerable Delhi Golf Club.
Tired and bushwhacked at the end of a long birthday, his thoughts were centred around proving that he was indeed the ‘King of Delhi Golf Club’, as he ‘confessed’ in his blog.
Five days later, the Qualifying School graduate was truly India’s newest Hero when he produced a spectacular birdie-birdie finish to win the Open. His prize: a lovely trophy to cradle and a US$198,125 cheque to bank.
“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 Karlberg, whose first Tour victory came at the SAIL Open at the same venue earlier in the season.
An outrageous birdie from 35 feet on the 17th hole pushed the stylish Swede into a two-shot lead from battling young Korean Baek Seuk-hyun but he knew the race was far from over as an eagle was attainable at the reachable par five closing hole.
Three shots later, Karlberg found himself in trouble as he ended up in the newly constructed players’ lounge in front of the DGC’s fabled Annexe. With big-hitting Baek safely on the green in close birdie range, a two-shot swing and a play-off loomed.
But amazingly, after taking a free drop, Karlberg brilliantly holed out his chip for a birdie, much to the delight of a delirious Delhi crowd. “So many emotions ran through my body at the same time. The strongest was relief I think. I was very close to messing it up, but I did it. I’m the King of Delhi.
“To sink the chip, it feels amazing. 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,” added Karlberg, who totaled 11-under-par 277 for the week.
Baek, who like Karlberg had come through the Qualifying School process, found consolation that his second place was enough to earn him an Asian Tour card for 2011.
“Rikard played really good the last two holes for those birdies,” said the Korean rookie. “I’m really happy to get my Tour card.”
Indians have always performed superbly on home turf and it was no different at the Hero Honda Indian Open.
In the end, the 27-year-old Manav Jaini was disappointed to let slip the chance of glory. He charged into the sole lead with five brilliant birdies on his outward nine but dropped costly shots on the 10th, 16th and 17th holes to eventually finish tied third with Shiv Kapur.
“I 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, who was enjoying the familiarity of competing on his home course.
“I was 11 under (on the turn) and Rikard has just finished 11 under. Going into the back nine, I would have put money on myself to shoot level par. I guess it’s the pressure of big events which do get you sometimes.”
