Chopra builds confidence at Henrico County Open
IN: News | Nationwide | Henrico County Open (2004) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 24 May 2004
Daniel Chopra has a card for the USPGA Tour but with his lack of success this season he has found himself struggling to get starts and as a consequence has had to return to the Nationwide Tour to bolster his game, his confidence and his bank balance.
After agonisingly missing his USPGA Tour card last year by just one spot on the 2003 Nationwide Tour's money list, Chopra eventually gained his card at last year's qualifying school where he finished sixth, a very good ranking but he has not been able to capitalise on it in the early part of the year. Once the re-ranking came, it was always going to be a struggle to get regular starts.
There was also the confidence aspect, and a return to the Nationwide Tour had immediate effect when he won the First Tee Arkansas Classic in April then, in his second appearance this year, has won the Henrico County Open in blistering fashion by four shots with a total of thirty under par. The total smashed Chad Campbell's tournament record by five but at this venue it is the best by ten.
It will be interesting see the impact such success has on Chopra when he returns to the PGA Tour but either way he is now closing in on his 2005 Tour card. The top twenty at year's end on the Nationwide Tour will get through and while not a lock at present, it is looking good for the 30-year-old.
While Chopra missed many fairways today, his putting, which had not been too bad in any case throughout the week, stepped in to save the day. Twenty two putts got him out of any potential trouble and with a scorecard for the week that read thirty nine pars, thirty birdies, one eagle and just two bogeys it was heady stuff.
Chopra's background is interesting. From a Swedish mother and an Indian father, Chopra developed his golf game in India and played the European Tour from 1996 where he managed to retain his card for three years. He had success in Asia before heading to Europe winning the Taiwan Open in 1995 and then the 2001 Mercurie Masters there following an invite and played in Japan also on occasions.
Australian Nathan Green, who had not played for several weeks prior to last week's missed cut at the Chattanooga event, was second, alongside Franklin Langham who creeps closer to regaining his PGA Tour card every week. Green is yet another Australian staking his claim for PGA Tour glory via the Nationwide Tour this year. Currently there are seven Australians inside the top twenty and now Green has moved to 31st.
Other Australasians were Matthew Jones 15th, Mattie Goggin 20th, Gavin Coles and Michael Long 30th and Paul Gow 39th.
The Nationwide Tour now heads to Raleigh North Carolina for the SAS Carolina Classic.
