Army’s loss is golf’s gain as Veer Ahlawat scripts best Indian finish at Hero Indian Open 2024

Published at :March 31, 2024 at 10:07 PM

Modified at :March 31, 2024 at 10:07 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Army golfer’s dream finish at DLF grabs second place, pushes him to PGTI lead.

Golfers from Indian Army backgrounds have made waves around the world on most occasions.

Jyoti Randhawa became a three-time winner of the Indian Open (2000, 2006 and 2007) and entered the top 100 rankings of the world besides making multiple appearances at major championships.

Anirban Lahiri went on to become the second-highest Indian pro in the world at 33rd position, just five places behind iconic golfer Jeev Milkha Singh. Lahiri won twice on the DP World Tour, including the Hero Indian Open and Maybank Malaysian Open in 2015 besides seven Asian Tour titles and the Asian Games team silver in 2006.

He plies his trade on the Saudi Arabia-bankrolled LIV Golf Tour. Shubhankar Sharma is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour and has been a regular there since his Maybank Championship victory in 2018.

On Sunday, another professional with army roots – Veer Ahlawat – scripted the best Indian finish at the Hero Indian Open since SSP Chawrasia’s victory at the 2017 edition. Ahlawat carded a one-under 71 in the final round under immense pressure – which included a birdie and a fantastic eagle on the 18th – to end tied second alongside Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden and American Johannes Veerman at 13-under 275.

Japan’s Keita Nakajima posted a wire-to-wire victory at 17-under 271 for his first DP World Tour title. However, Ahlawat soaked in the pressure at his home course DLF Golf & Country Club and ‘Lady Luck’ smiled on him, having married on March 2, 2024.

Interestingly, a lot of Indian pros got married recently including Ajeetesh Sandhu, Angad Cheema, Rahil Gangjee and Honey Baisoya.

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“I’m really happy to have played so well in front of my home crowd, my family and my newly-wedded wife. Definitely, there was some ‘Lady Luck’ too. A lot of guys have got married recently and hopefully it will show in their results on the course too. Whenever I felt the pressure a look into the eyes of my wife calmed me down. When the crowd roared on the 18th green I felt as if I was the winner. But, I managed to put together a good week thanks to some brilliant driving and iron-play,” Ahlawat told Khel Now.

Coached by Anitya Chand since 2011, Ahlawat had been bred on the DLF layout. He took a membership of the Army course in Dhaula Kuan four years back, but his sessions with his coach culminated in a fantastic performance this time.

“Finishing with an eagle was the icing on the cake. There was just one bad drive by me on the eighth today, other than that I didn’t hit bad shots. I just didn’t make good pars on a few holes, I would say. Playing well in such a strong field and negotiating the tough windy conditions on the final day really boosts my morale,” he added.

With his elder sister Chand Ahlawat a Major rank officer, one would have expected Veer to also join the army but the way he played in his junior and amateur days convinced his father Yashpal, who retired as a Colonel from Gurgaon, to let him follow his passion.

“People always put this nagging question how come your son didn’t get into the army and your daughter did? But, I saw a spark in him and got in touch with Anitya, who has been a fatherly figure to him and has helped him grow into the strong golfer he is,” Yashpal said.

“I played a lot of sports in school. Basketball was my first love. But, when I saw my father playing golf I soon got attracted to it. At one time, I also wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and become an army officer, but as I started registering good results in my junior days I decided to turn professional,” Veer said.

Veer Ahlawat’s tied second result catapulted him to the first position in the PGTI Order of Merit at INR 71,82,267 ahead of Rahil Gangjee at INR 40,67,390. If he ends the season as the Order of Merit winner, Veer will receive a full card on the DP World Tour’s 2025 season.

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