Australian coach Kel Llewellyn — currently coaching in India — had reason to celebrate as Indian-born Daniel Chopra carded his second victory on the Nationwide Tour yesterday. ‘‘He has always had the potential and will do well on the US Tour,’’ he prophecised over lunch last week.‘‘Everyone’s congratulating me. But I can’t putt that good,’’ he laughed when congratulated for his pupil’s success, adding, ‘‘Daniel has come good in a big way.’’Having coached Daniel since he was a teenager, the two have developed a special relationship and Daniel makes it a point to keep in touch. ‘‘The good thing about it is that he calls me every week and I coach him over the phone. It’s mostly mental stuff. He called me after being 16-under, then after he was 23-under and I said, ‘try to increase your lead’. He told me that he was going for 30-under and that’s what I am glad for. He went for it and he got it. Daniel’s card last week is the card of a mature, great player. He has realised his potential and I think the sky’s the limit now,’’ added Kel, who will probably join Daniel in the United States some time next month.A second-rung tour to the USPGA Tour, the Nationwide hosts tournaments for some of the world’s leading players each week and the top 20 money winners from this tour earn their playing rights to the world’s ultimate golf tour.Last year, Daniel finished just outside the top 20, losing out in the last tournament of the season and thus had to go to the USPGA Tour qualifying school to earn his card. While both Arjun Atwal and Daniel earned their cards, Daniel has been playing the Nationwide Tour simultaneously, when he has time off from the USPGA Tour.The Indian-born Swede national broke through to win his first tournament on the Nationwide Tour in April when he won the First Tee Arkansas Classic. However, yesterday’s win was even more spectacular as he went on to win both the meets he has played on tour so far.Daniel carded a bogey-free final round seven-under 65 en route to victory at the Henrico County Open with a total of 30-under-par 258, setting a Nationwide Tour record. He also became the only other player to take his 72-hole score to 30-under, one shot below Ernie Els who holds the PGA Tour record after he carded 31-under-par at the Mercedes Open in 2003.
