Siddikur comes second again

Siddikur Rahman had to endure the fate of the second-best yet again after falling three strokes short of eventual winner Chiragh Kumar in the Panasonic Open in New Delhi yesterday. The two-time Asian Tour winner suffered a recurring lower back injury on the second hole and had to battle through the pain barrier before settling for his second runner-up finish in the event.

Having started the final round one stroke behind Chiragh, Siddikur carded four birdies and same number of bogeys at the Delhi Golf Club yesterday as he shared the second position with Thai Veteran Thaworn Wiratchant at 10-under (278).

The fourth round brought the first even-par score for Siddikur, who had carded 68, 70 and 68 in the three previous rounds. Chiragh, who held the lead since the opening round, finished three shots clear with 13-under (275) for his first title on the Asian Tour.

The veteran Bangladeshi golfer had momentarily took a share of the lead after ending the front nine with three birdies and two bogeys. Chiragh, however, fired birdies on the 11th and 13th holes to get back to a two-shot lead as Siddikur settled for pars. Siddikur, though, reduced the margin by birdying on the 15th, but consecutive bogeys on the 17th and 18th extinguished his chances of breaking a two-year drought on the tour.

"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," Siddikur told Asiantour.com after the end of the round, adding: "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."

Meanwhile, Jamal Hossain Mollah, who had started the day in third position, settled for a joint 23rd-place finish after a disastrous five-over (77) in the final round. Two bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine ended his hopes of a first top-ten finish on the tour.