BMW event best chance to qualify for US Open: Golfer Chawrasia

Kolkata, May 11 (IANS) Two-time Indian Open champion golfer S.S.P. Chawrasia feels that the BMW PGA Championship at Virginia Water will be his best chance to qualify for the US Open Championship keeping in mind his rich vein of form lately.

Chawrasia, who has never played in a Masters event before, will be playing the US Open qualifiers on May 29 in England after competing in the BMW PGA Championship (May 25-28) at Virginia Water in Surrey.

"In the US Open qualifiers, I will try and qualify from England. There will be 10-12 spots up for grabs. A hundred players will play. If I can be in top 10-plus tie, I will qualify for the US Open for the first time," Chawrasia told IANS at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) here on Thursday.

"This is my best chance to qualify for the US Open," the 38-year-old said.

"I am in the best form of my life. Our game is totally dependent on the mind. I am in the right head space at the moment, so I have a good chance of making the grade.

"I am in good form. I have practised a lot and am in full flow. I am going to BMW Championship in England next week and that will be a sort of practice as well. It is obviously every golfer's dream to play the Majors. I also have that in mind," the golfer added.

Chawrasia recently took part in the GolfSixes event in England where he paired up with S. Chikkarangappa but failed to produce good results.

The Indian pair lost to England's star pairing Andy Sullivan and Chris Wood in the opening match before finishing second best to the Netherlands and Denmark duos and bowing out.

"The format in England was alternate shot. It was a six-hole event three times so that it is 18 holes at the end," Chawrasia explained.

"We played against England first. Then we played against Holland and Denmark both of which we lost. We had a good chance of winning against England but we made three putts in the last hole.

"It was a very interesting format and felt passionate too carrying the national flag," said Chawrasia, who will also play in the Nordea Masters after his England tryst.

Chawrasia signed off by saying he is yet to receive Rs 30 lakh promised by the government towards preparation for the Rio Olympics held in August last year.

"The process is still on. It's a lengthy process. I have completed all the formalities... let's see what happens now," he said.

Meanwhile, Chawrasia further informed that he will be sponsoring four promising children all in the 5-12 year age-group if they manage to qualify for the US Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst from August 3-5.

Chawrasia launched his Foundation recently and will conduct a golf trial of 120 kids at the RCGC on Friday to select four kids to compete in the finale of the Milkha Junior Golf Championship in the fourth week of this month.

The winners of the season ending finale get an opportunity to represent the nation in the US Kids World & Teen World Championship at Pinehurst, NC, USA and if the Kolkata kids make the cut, Chawrasia will sponsor them.