Kochhar, 26, finished tied for ninth at last week\u2019s IGPL Bharath Classic, following a tied-for-fifth at the International Series Japan and fourth at the Philippine Golf Championship. Late last year, he won the Egypt Golf Series Red Sea Open on the Asian Development Tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kochhar is among the 10 Indians participating in the $2 million high-profile event. The group also includes Anirban Lahiri and IGPL\u2019s star player Gaganjeet Bhullar, along with other IGPL stars such as Aryan Roopa Anand, Udayan Mane, and SSP Chawrasia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Indian team also features Rashid Khan, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Ajeetesh Sandhu, and Shubham Jaglan. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
A confident Kochhar said, \u201cI think I\u2019ve been playing really well this year. I\u2019ve only played five events so far and I\u2019ve already had three top-10 finishes, so that\u2019s definitely encouraging. Even in the other events, I felt like I was playing solid golf. In New Zealand, I just had a poor Sunday, and in Singapore I wasn\u2019t playing my best, but I still managed to make the cut, which I was happy about.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Over the past three weeks, Kochhar has tested that consistency as he competed through Morocco\u2019s distinctive professional golf swing, starting from the Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour and culminating in this week\u2019s International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco. He participated in all three events and acknowledged that it has been physically demanding, especially given the tough coastal conditions at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely been a bit taxing. The last two weeks at Mazagan were tough because it\u2019s such a windy golf course, and playing in those conditions takes a lot more energy out of you,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m definitely feeling a little tired, but I keep reminding myself how important, and potentially life-changing, this tournament is. I\u2019ll have a long break after this week, so it\u2019s worth giving everything I\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kochhar\u2019s performances have established him as the top Indian player in events organized jointly by the Asian Tour and the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), a role he is very proud of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much talent on the IGPL Tour and in Indian golf in general, so it was great to see the IGPL and Asian Tour come together for this partnership. I\u2019m fortunate that I\u2019ve been able to do well and finish as the top Indian player recently, and I definitely take pride in that. Of course, you always want to finish high on the leaderboard overall, but there\u2019s also a part of me that wants to be the best Indian finisher each week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This week\u2019s International Series field also provides Kochhar with another exciting opportunity to spend time with Indian golfing legend Anirban Lahiri. The two were already engaging in some friendly competition even before the tournament week officially started.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe actually had a little seven-hole match today. Me and Aryan (Roopa Anand) versus Anirban and Shaurya (Bhattacharya),\u201d Kochhar said with a smile. \u201cAryan and I were two down with two holes to play, but I birdied the last two holes to halve the match. I was pretty happy about that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kochhar also values the opportunity to learn from one of India\u2019s most accomplished golfers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe actually had a little seven-hole match today. Me and Aryan (Roopa Anand) versus Anirban and Shaurya (Bhattacharya),\u201d Kochhar said with a smile. \u201cAryan and I were two down with two holes to play, but I birdied the last two holes to halve the match. I was pretty happy about that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all really happy to have him here, and hopefully I get to play some more rounds with him this week,\u201d he stated. <\/p>\r\n\r\n