Khalin pips Chiragh for third PGTI title

Bengaluru's Khalin Joshi clinched his third PGTI title with a thrilling playoff victory over Delhi's Chiragh Kumar in the Rs. 30 lakh Players Championship at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Mewat, Haryana, on Friday.
Joshi (68-65-67-70) and Kumar (70-65-66-69) were involved in a playoff after both finished the regulation 72 holes with matching totals of 18-under-270.
Joshi then nailed a decisive birdie on the first playoff hole to take home the winner’s cheque worth Rs.4.5 lakh.
"It's a highly satisfying win for me since the course conditions were tough due to the rain on the last two days. I've also won on the PGTI after a long gap so it’s all the more special. Hopefully, I can now get my Asian Tour season back on track," said Joshi, who moved up from 10th to fifth place in the Rolex Ranking.
"I came into this week carrying forward my good hitting form from last week in Noida. I didn't really feel the pressure today.
"I felt the stoppage due to rain helped me today. I wasn't really swinging well before the rain delay. But during the stoppage of play I got in a good warm up session and got my swing going.
"I feel I'm in a good mental frame at the moment and looking forward to the second half of the season."
Earlier, Kumar, overnight second and one off the lead, took the honours on the front-nine as he scored four birdies to establish a substantial three-stroke lead.
But the contest took an exciting turn after a two and a half hour rain delay, as Joshi, who could only manage a birdie and a bogey on the front-nine, fought back with three consecutive birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th to draw level.
There was more drama to follow as both dropped a bogey each on the 16th and 17th respectively. Then they made pars on the 18th and the deadlock resulted in a playoff.