GolfPlus Sept 18 Digital Edition (Sept 2018) | Page 62

Tollygunge Club. However, the understated
youngster, one of India’s top ranked
amateurs in 2015 and 2016, has spent most
of his time in Bengaluru over the last one
year to be with coach Tarun Sardesai.
Viraj was a plump kid and was thus
introduced to swimming by his parents at
a very young age. However, he soon took a
liking for golf after watching the members
play at the Tollygunge Club and began
pursuing the sport under the tutelage of
renowned coach Indrajit Bhalotia by the
time he was eight years old.
The rest was history as 20 titles at the junior
level and six titles at the amateur level
followed.
Madappa turned professional in 2017 and
became the PGTI Emerging Player of the
Year during the season with a creditable
ninth place fi nish on the PGTI Order of
Merit.
This is Viraj’s fi rst win as a professional
and is also the third international win for
India in two weeks following Gaganjeet
Bhullar’s triumph at the Fiji International
and Rahil Gangjee’s win at the Louis
WINNERS’ QUOTES
Philippe Cup, both of which came in the
previous week.
Madappa was slow off the blocks in round
four, being one-over for the day at the turn.
However, the back-nine came to his rescue
for the fourth straight day as he rallied with
fi ve birdies over the next nine holes to
come through in style.
Viraj, who admires golfers such as Phil
Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Anirban
Lahiri, now enjoys a full exemption on the
Asian Tour till the end of 2019.
Here are some quotes from the three Indians
who won international events last month.
The fi rst day of the tournament was rusty for me and I had said I needed some practice.
The second round was exactly that practice which I was longing for. The third round gave me the
much-needed boost. When I started the fi nal round, I honestly did not have much of a plan in mind.
Over the last year, I have played the fi nal rounds one shot at a time and I don’t play for a particular
number and today wasn’t any different. I am thankful to the weather gods that except for a minor
sprinkle there wasn’t much of a rain scare and that helped me stay in rhythm.
RAHIL GANGJEE
LOUIS PHILIPPE CUP 2018 CHAMPION
GAGANJEET BHULLAR
Even though after number 16, I kind of had a feeling that I can win the tournament, but I think
that chip-in on 17 pretty much closed the deal. I had a little bit of an idea that this chip is going to run a lot,
but it wasn’t an easy chip, I could have easily missed up and down and settled for second or third.
This kind of good form was defi nitely building up from last, I would say, two months, I had two good
fi nishes. In fact, more than two, but two runner up fi nishes on the Asian Tour. I’ve been playing really well.
It was just a matter of time and I’m glad it happened on this stage.
FIJI INTERNATIONAL 2018 CHAMPION
The night before the fi nal round I thought about the win, the winning putt and so much else, so
I was kind of nervous. Then, to get my fi rst pro win on the Asian Tour was a dream come true. It
will take time to sink in.
Winning the tournament did cross my mind when I birdied the 16th hole but I was just trying to stay in
the present and hit every shot I could the right way. I thaink I did a good job there. I didn’t back off from
the situation. Even though I had the opportunity to lay-up on the 18th hole, I decided to go for the green
and I’m proud that I made that decision.
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GolfPlus
SEPTEMBER
2018
VIRAJ MADAPPA
TAKE SOLUTIONS MASTERS 2018 CHAMPION