In a display that might make the ancient Stoics nod approvingly, Hyderabad’s Mohd Azhar has snagged his first pro title at the Kolar Open. This victory, achieved at Zion Hills Golf County, shows a particular brand of stubbornness, a refusal to get bent out of shape by fortune’s fickle winds – or, you know, the actual wind and rain that decided to show up on the final day.
You have to feel for Shaurya Bhattacharya, though. He was leading for most of the final round, only to see his hopes unravel faster than a cheap sweater on the last two holes. His shot at a fourth title went kaput with a couple of double bogeys. A rather grim way to finish for a guy who’d been cruising along, making the course look easy. It’s a stark reminder that holding onto a golf lead is usually trickier than a tightrope walker trying to eat a sandwich.
Azhar, meanwhile, a 27-year-old pro since 2020, played the kind of golf that screams, "I have a very deep well of inner fortitude." He managed a 71, a score that hid the fact he dropped shots early on. But he just kept grinding, steady as she goes, all the way to the win. His composure was so remarkable, you could almost picture him calmly reciting Plato while stuck in a bunker.
That two-shot cushion earned Azhar a rather nice Rs 15 lakh cheque. While the cash is great, the real prize is probably the psychological boost. This win rockets him into the top ten of the DP World PGTI Order of Merit, a climb that feels a bit like scaling Olympus, minus the lightning bolts and plus a lot more well-struck putts.
Sharing the runner-up spot were Angad Cheema and the aforementioned Bhattacharya, both finishing at 7 under. Cheema, a veteran with four tour wins, adds another second-place finish to his collection. It’s a familiar spot for him, I suppose, like Sisyphus constantly finding himself back at the bottom of his hill, only with better golf attire.
Azhar’s monster putt on the 12th, a good 35 feet, must have felt as monumental as Achilles finding his heel. It capped off a round where he showed he could bounce back from early mistakes and seize opportunities. This win, at a place where he’d previously tied for second, suggests Kolar is becoming his personal happy hunting ground. Or maybe it’s just where his quiet determination finally gets to shine.
With the tour heading towards Azhar’s home turf, this maiden triumph is a serious confidence booster. Playing in Hyderabad, on courses as familiar as his own living room, should lead to some more interesting performances. For now, though, Azhar can bask in a victory earned through disciplined golf and a quiet refusal to get caught up in anyone else's dramatic collapses.