Siddikur Rahman finished tied runner-up in the Panasonic Open India after carding an equal-par 72 in the fourth and last round with a back injury at the Delhi Golf Club yesterday.
The last-year’s lower back injury haunted the Bangladeshi golfer on the second hole as he was forced to battle through the pain barrier before settling for his second runner-up finish in the US $400,000 Asian Tour event.
Overnight leader Chiragh Kumar emerged as the champions with three-shot lead after a decent two-under-par 70. The home favourite scored a total 13-under-par 275 to clinch his maiden Asian Tour title.
Other Bangladeshi Zamal Hossain stumbled badly in the ultimate round to come up with a below-average five-over-par 77 and finished jointly at 23rd along with three others.
After a bogey-free round the previous day, the back injury didn’t allow Siddikur uphold the same run as he carved four bogeys yesterday to eventually score a total 10-under-par 278. Veteran Thai golfer Thaworn Wiratchant rose from fifth spot to join Siddikur after firing three-under-par 69 .
Despite carding four bogeys, the 31-year-old two-time Asian Tour winning golfer offered strong challenge to the Indian opponent and they were even tied for the lead at the turn.
Chiragh holed a birdie on 11 to restore order but it was a huge 25-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole which gave him the edge. Siddikur fought back with a birdie on 15 but two costly bogeys on 17 and 18 dashed his title hopes.
Siddikur felt pain in his lower back on the second hole and thoughts of retiring flashed through his mind. He received treatment from the physiotherapist on the fourth tee box which eased the pain for the remainder of the round.
“I thought I wasn’t able to play because I was hurt but the physiotherapist gave me some treatment on the fourth tee box and I felt better. I’m happy that I finished my round. I didn’t put any pressure on myself to do well or win because I could feel the pain in my back. The win didn’t come but it is okay,” said Siddikur.
The Delhi Gold Club has been Siddikur’s favourite golf course for a while and one of his two Asian Tour title came at this venue in the Hero Indian Open in 2013, the biggest achievement in his career. Siddikur finished jointly at fifth place in the last edition of Panasonic Open which was his first event after returning from back injury.