NEW DELHI, MARCH 20: There is a strange chemistry between Jyoti Randhawa and the South African Sammy Daniels, and the Indian is beginning to relish it. But if things continue the way they did at the Wills Indian Open 2000 - and before that at the Hero Honda Masters in 1999 - Daniels is not going to be too pleased about it.For the second time in a row, Daniels was pipped at the post by Randhawa who, with a win in the second play-off hole, won his third APGA title within 18 months. It also meant that no foreigner has won on Indian soil in any APGA event for five events in a row. Randhawa had his biggest payday with the winner's cheque of $ 50,010 as two other Indians, Gaurav Ghei (tied for third) and Yusuf Ali (tied for 10th) finished in the top 10.Randhawa carded a final day 69 for his 15-under 273, while Daniels whipped up a seven-under 65 for his 273. Gaurav Ghei, always a danger man on the final day, may well have got into the play-off but for a botched 18th hole, where he messed his drive. He only parred a hole, which on Sunday's form could have been a birdie for him. He carded a six-under 66 and tied for the third place with five others, Mike Cunning, Felix Casas, Trevor Immelman and Gilberto Morales.The end, when it came for Daniels, was almost an anti-climax. After playing brilliant golf for most day, he ruined it all at one hole, the 18th, not once but twice. First, he bogeyed in normal play and then, in the first play-off hole which was again at the 18th, he first parred to halve it. In the second play-off hole, again on the 18th, he went out of bounds in the left bushes to be docked two strokes. It was all over. Randhawa calmly but safely brought home the coveted trophy."I felt a bit sorry for Daniels," said Randhawa, who also pipped him at the Hero Honda Masters last year. Then Daniels had been distracted on the final putt by a unruly spectator, and this time he messed it himself. The Randhawa-Daniels association began with the Singapore Open, when both tied for the third place. Thereafter Randhawa has had the better of him. ``Maybe I am lucky when I have to fight it out with him,'' added Randhawa, who has now won all four times he has teed off on Indian soil in this season beginning from the Hero Honda Masters in October 1999. ``I am really proud of it and to me winning the National Open of your country is really a great feeling," he added.On a day, when overnight leaders, Cunning, Casas and Yusuf Ali, apart, there were some sparkling golf from Daniels and Ghei, who were in the same three-ball. Then there was Randhawa, who displayed a great deal of maturity as he sensed a probable win while coming close to the 18th green.Yusuf Ali finished with a 73 and ended joint tenth, while Vivek Bhandari was the next best Indian at 10-under 278 with a final day 71. Defending champion Arjun Atwal had a par round and finished at nine-under 279 and tied for the 20th place.
