Atwal, SSP get the card trick right

Matching steps on the brown winter grass of the Delhi Golf Club today, the two shared laughs and the incumbency of local hope. And after an up-down day that had the wind blowing bunker dust and scores around, they will have more time together to revive memories in the last round of the Emaar-MGF Indian Masters tomorrow. They are both four-under 212 and placed tied fifth. Atwal shot level par and Chowrasia one-under on a day of only nine under-par rounds.

The new name on the top is of Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin as overnight leader Damien McGrane lost his course plot and struck three-over. He’s tied on second with Jose Manuel Lara and Graeme McDowell, one behind the lead and one ahead of the Indian duo.

A sun-bathed start was made brighter by first-hole birdies for the two Indians before a sparkle on the par-four third for Chowrasia. He teed off into the right rough, and then landed in the left greenside bunker with two ordinary shots. Chipping out, it landed firm and rolled spectacularly to the pin for his second birdie. Then he went about making pars as Atwal first made it seem like a day of great overall game before a hiccup.

A slight pull with the club meant that his tee shot hooked and then swept by the swirling winds, went way too left on the par-three seventh. The rescue act failed miserably as he fell into the greenside bunker with the second and then the chip went ten feet across the pin. The putt, that would have kept trouble to just one dropped shot, missed target by inches. That double bogey put him back where he started, making the turn at level par. Two birdies followed immediately, perfect approaches and flawless putts on the 10th and the 11th. He said he’s been unable to read putt lines all week, and that came back to haunt with dropped shots on the 15th and 16th — the first putt actually lipping out.

Chowrasia had his own stumble on the 10th, three on and three-putting to a double dip. Three birdies and one bogey was leading to an already wobbly round, before a slack second putt meant he had to three-putt for a bogey finish.

Ernie Els shot the best round of the day, a three-under to be four off the lead. Gaurav Ghei finally found rhythm to join Els in tied 10th spot after a two-under today. Jyoti Randhawa’s second coming was not realised — he shot three-over today and is down to 23rd.