After a spotlight win in European Challenge Tour in March in Bangalore, the 36-year-old Chouhan shot 69-74-71-66 (8-under 280) at the US$ 300,000 UAE Challenge at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, UAE winning €5,978.77 as the prize money. 

Overnight he reached from 33rd place to tied ninth. It was his second top-10 finish on the European Challenge Tour. Chouhan started the final day in 33rd place but fired a 66 that included six birdies and an eagle on the 440-yard par-4 14th hole to climb 24 spots up the leaderboard. 

Om Prakash Chouhan had first one the Duncan Taylor Black Bull Challenge in Bengaluru, later missed the cut at KGA Challenge. Here in Abu Dhabi, Prakash with his playing partner Cole Madey, who was playing his first counting event of 2023 also finished tied-9.  

For getting a card to the DP World Tour, one should lie in the Top-20 on the rankings in the Road to Mallorca Rankings. Right now, Chouhan in on ninth place. He is also in the top of the Indian PGTI Order of Merit and if he stays there that would also get him a DP World card. 

Rottluff won the UAE Challenge with his maiden European Challenge Tour victory. He carded a round of 70 to reach 14 under par and finish one shot clear of Road to Mallorca number one Ugo Coussaud. 

Rottluff with the winning trophy

For a player who has rarely ventured overseas in a long career, a 9th place finish in Abu Dhabi for OP Chouhan from Mhow, is a superb achievement which should encourage some of our other homegrown talents to take the opportunity to play outside India whenever given a chance.

The tour’s next event will be in Netherlands and it will be great to see if Chouhan follows the tour and continues his travels in Europe this summer while the PGTI takes a break due to the hot summer months.

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