European TourBrian KeoghHero Indian Open, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, SSP Chawrasia, Siddikur RahmanComment

Lawrie lurking after level par day in Delhi

European TourBrian KeoghHero Indian Open, Peter Lawrie, Gareth Maybin, SSP Chawrasia, Siddikur RahmanComment
Lawrie lurking after level par day in Delhi
India's SSP Chawrasia hits a fairway metal in round three of the Hero Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club. Picture © Getty Images

India's SSP Chawrasia hits a fairway metal in round three of the Hero Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club. Picture © Getty Images

Peter Lawrie is hitting it straighter than ever but he needs his putter to heat up if he's to take home a big cheque from the Hero Indian Open.

Tied for 12th, nine shots off the lead after posting two birdies and two bogeys in a third round 71, Dubliner is ranked 22nd for driving accuracy and fifth for greens hit in regulation at tight and tricky Delhi Golf Club.

He's had 94 putts over the first three days, however, and made just six birdies. Unusually, they have come at three par-fives and three par-threes, which leaves the Irishman still waiting to birdie his first par-four as he heads out for the final round alongside rookie Jason Palmer — a man who chips one handed — and Spain's Adrian Otaegui.

Gareth Maybin shot a four over 75 by following a birdie at the first with five bogeys and a rollercoaster birdie-birdie-double finish, crashing 39 spots to tied 64th on four over.

At the top of the leaderboard, SSP Chawrasia of India and Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman carded respective rounds of 69 and 70 in the third round, taking home favourite Chawrasia to 12 under par for the week and two clear of his Bangladeshi rival going into the final day. 

Australian Marcus Fraser is their closest challenger on seven under after a third round 67 while Daniel Chopra made a brilliant eagle three on the par five 18th to card the lowest round of the day, a fine six under par 65, to move from tied 23rd spot to fourth place alongside the Thai, Pryad Marksaeng.

Chawrasia has won both of his European Tour titles at the Delhi Golf Club, while Siddikur has played here on 11 occasions, winning once at the 2013 Hero Indian Open and racking up another nine top ten finishes.

Given the strength of those records, and the fact both men are playing such high quality golf (Chawrasia made his first bogey of the week on his 53rd hole of the week), it is difficult to foresee anything but a thrilling battle between the two during Sunday’s final round.

"I feel great," Chawrasia said. "I missed a few putts but I’m still happy. I missed my eight iron on the 17th hole or else, I would have still been bogey free. My tee shot landed in the trees but it wasn’t as bad as it looked. I hit a low shot and I was able to save par.

"I want to think and play positive on the final day. The final round is always special so I will play aggressively. The wind changed today and it was totally different from the last two days. I just kept playing low ball flights. I played my own game and not thinking that I’m playing match play.

"That’s my target. If anyone is coming closer, let them. I just want to focus on my own game. I’m trying to be calm but I’m feeling very frustrated inside!"

As for Siddikur, he was happy to make a great par save on the 17th and then birdie the last.

"Overall I am happy with one under today," he said. "The birdie at the last was very important. Anything can happen in this game – I am looking forward tomorrow and hopefully I can play the way I did on Thursday. 

"I tried not to look too much at what SSP was doing today – I tried to focus on my own game and keep hitting the greens in regulation and try to make some birdie putts.”

Hero Indian Open, Delhi GC (after 54 holes)

201 S Chawrasia (Ind) 65 67 69,

203 S Rahman (Ban) 65 68 70,

206 M Fraser (Aus) 69 70 67,

207 D Chopra (Swe) 70 72 65, P Marksaeng (Tha) 68 70 69,

208 P Peterson (USA) 69 68 71, A Lahiri (Ind) 73 65 70,

209 M Perera (Sri) 67 72 70, J Lagergren (Swe) 65 71 73, R McEvoy (Eng) 70 67 72, A Da Silva (Bra) 71 70 68,

210 J Palmer (Eng) 70 71 69, Peter Lawrie (Irl) 69 70 71, A Otaegui (Esp) 70 70 70, B Evans (Eng) 72 70 68,

211 R Wattel (Fra) 70 74 67, J Roos (RSA) 70 69 72, K Richardson (Aus) 67 74 70, C Nirat (Tha) 65 71 75, P Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 73 70 68,

212 K Pratt (Aus) 75 69 68, J Hahn (USA) 70 71 71, S Chikkarangappa (Ind) 69 75 68, A Vongvanij (Tha) 72 72 68, J Randhawa (Ind) 74 69 69, C Del Moral (Esp) 69 71 72, J Singh (Ind) 72 72 68, M Korhonen (Fin) 68 72 72, M Jiménez (Esp) 70 71 71, A Wall (Eng) 72 70 70, C Lloyd (Eng) 74 70 68,

213 C Kumar (Ind) 69 74 70, M Jaini (Ind) 73 69 71, M Orrin (Eng) 71 72 70, M Kumar (Ind) 71 73 69, J Parry (Eng) 70 74 69, A Cheema (Ind) 72 70 71,

214 L Weber (Fra) 68 74 72, C Pigem (Esp) 70 72 72, J Knutzon (USA) 71 72 71, V Riu (Fra) 71 72 71, K Kumar (Ind) 72 72 70, A Groom (Aus) 74 69 71, S Sharma (Ind) 69 72 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 71 71 72, R Khan (Ind) 71 72 71, P Meesawat (Tha) 71 71 72, W Ormsby (Aus) 75 68 71, M Tullo (Chi) 72 69 73,

215 R Lee (Can) 65 75 75, P Pittayarat (Tha) 72 71 72, T Khrongpha (Tha) 68 74 73, D Chia (Mas) 68 76 71, A Malik (Ind) 75 69 71, A Atwal (Ind) 70 70 75, M Tabuena (Phi) 72 72 71, S Kapur (Ind) 73 69 73, J Janewattananond (Tha) 68 74 73,

216 J Scrivener (Aus) 72 72 72, J Campillo (Esp) 71 73 72, S Walker (Eng) 72 72 72, A Velasco (Esp) 71 71 74, M Mamat (Sin) 73 71 72,

217 N Holman (Aus) 71 73 73, O Chouhan (Ind) 71 73 73, Gareth Maybin (Nir) 72 70 75, S Soderberg (Swe) 72 71 74,

218 N Thangaraja (Sri) 71 73 74,

221 C Paisley (Eng) 75 68 78.