NEW DELHI — Keita Nakajima of Japan selected to deal with the European tour as a substitute of a smaller American circuit and made the choice repay Sunday when he closed with a 1-over 73 to win the Hero Indian Open.
Nakajima had a 2-shot result in begin the ultimate spherical at DLF Golf and Nation Membership and made 4 birdies within the opening eight holes. That stretched his result in 9 pictures, after which it was solely a matter of ending. He shot 40 on the again 9 and nonetheless received by 4 for his first European tour title.
“The win positively provides me lots of confidence in myself, and hoping now to take what I did this week and switch it into much more wins sooner or later,” Nakajima mentioned.
Nakajima, whose 87 weeks as No. 1 within the males’s World Beginner Golf Rating are greater than anybody, received for the fourth time prior to now 10 months. The opposite three had been on the Japan Golf Tour final 12 months and enabled him to win the Order of Benefit.
Ending as No. 1 in Japan gave the 23-year-old Nakajima a European tour card, together with standing on the Korn Ferry Tour, which feeds the PGA Tour. The victory strikes him to No. 13 within the Race to Dubai, and No. 9 amongst those that don’t have already got PGA Tour standing.
The main 10 gamers after the season get PGA Tour playing cards.
Veer Ahlawat of India (71), Sebastian Söderberg of Sweden (67) and American Johannes Veerman (67) tied for second.
Nobody had a severe likelihood at successful the best way Nakajima began, and his solely frustration was the best way he completed. He took a double bogey on the 14th gap, bounced again with a birdie, after which closed with three straight bogeys.
Nakajima completed at 17-under 271.
“There have been a variety of robust holes on the again and I used to be annoyed with my play, ending with three consecutive bogies and naturally the double bogey,” Nakajima mentioned. “However thankfully I had a number of strokes within the financial institution which I can credit score again to my sturdy play on the entrance 9 and the sooner rounds this week, so general very pleased with my efficiency.”
Nakajima is the third Japanese participant to win on the European tour prior to now seven months. Rikuya Hoshino received the Qatar Masters in February, and Ryo Hisatsune received the French Open final September that helped him get one of many 10 PGA Tour playing cards.
