SSP Chawrasia Aims For Strong Showing in Myanmar Open Golf

SSP Chawrasia, who had a superb final round at Singapore Open last week, will be hoping to build on that when he tees at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open, which will feature as many as eight Indians, all of whom have tasted success at the Asian Tour. (Latest Golf News)

Chawrasia, currently the second highest world ranked Indian after Anirban Lahiri, will be joined by Rashid Khan, Chiragh Kumar, Arjun Atwal, Himmat Rai, Rahil Gangjee, Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar.

"This is my first visit to Myanmar and I am liking it. The golf course is nice. It is picturesque and the weather is somewhat warm, but not unbearable because it is not humid like Singapore last week. The mornings and evening are very pleasant.

"Last week I was somewhat patchy. I gave away a lot in a couple of holes, including a triple. But I was happy with my final nine on the last day," Chawrasia, who was tied-38th, said.

Chawrasia, who last year came close to adding a third co-sanctioned event to his wins when he finished second to Lahiri in the Hero Indian Open, said one of his goals this year is to represent India at the Rio Games.

"One of my goals this year is to represent India at the Olympics," he said.

Having finished second and third in a span of three weeks in Vietnam and Philippines late last season, Himmat Rai is also relishing running into form. He was tied-23rd last week in Singapore and the best among all Indians.

He played at the last Myanmar Open in 2013 and was tied-13th with weekend rounds of 67-68.

"In 2014, I lost my card and had to work my way back through the Q-School. But I worked hard, played some ADT events, too. Now things are looking better," Himmat said.

Gangjee feels he made a decent start at Singapore last week, but was unable to follow it up.

"That's been happening a few times of late. But I feel my game is coming around and I have been close quite a few times, but sooner than later my time will come. I have stay focused," said Gangjee, who had a top-10 at Myanmar in 2013.

The tournament got a massive boost with the entry of Younghan Song, who beat Jordan Spieth to the Singapore Open, and KT Kim, the Korean, who won five times in Japan last year to top the Japan Tour's Order of Merit.

The USD 750,000 Myanmar Open is said to be the richest sports event in the country, co-sanctioned by the Asian and Japan Tours.