India's SSP Chawrasia made the ideal start to his bid for a third European Tour victory on home soil to claim a share of the first round lead at the Hero Indian Open.
Chawrasia, who won the Indian Masters in 2008 and Avantha Masters in 2011, carded an opening six under par 65 at Delhi Golf Club – the scene of the first of those wins - to join playing partner Richard T Lee, Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman and Swede Joakim Lagergren on top of the leaderboard.
Starting on the back nine, Chawrasia picked up birdies at the 12th, 17th and 18th to reach the turn in 32 before carding further birdies at the first, sixth and eighth in a flawless round.
“I played very well and was bogey free,” said Chawrasia. “I made some good putts and was hitting it good off the tees. It looked easy but it wasn’t!
“I’ve played here many times so I know how to play this course. Richard was playing well as well so it was fun to play with him.
“This is my National Open and all the Indian golfers enjoy playing in this event. I’m not thinking too much on the course, I’m just enjoying myself.
“All my family and friends are here so that’s nice; I’m playing well and I have good memories here.
“It wasn’t very windy in the morning so that made things easier. The wind started to pick up after a few holes but I’m used to play in these conditions.”
Qualifying School graduate Lagergren mixed seven birdies with a single bogey and said: “That was a really good score.
“It’s not easy out there because it is such a tight course so I am very happy that everything worked for me today.”
Canadian Lee, a regular on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour who finished fourth in Thailand last week and fifth in Malaysia the week before, also did not drop a shot and carded four birdies on the back nine and two more on the front.
“It takes a little time to get used to playing so many different courses and conditions. I played great in Malaysia and Thailand but the challenge there was so different. Here it’s tight and bouncy so to play well here after the last two weeks is pretty satisfying.
“I have played here for the last two years though, so I definitely knew what to expect from this golf course. It was great to play with SSP today because not many guys have played as well as he has round here. He has won twice here and I have to say I learned a lot about managing this course by watching him hit certain shots today.”
The 31 year old Nirat was delighted to return to form after a difficult couple of weeks.
“I retired in Malaysia and missed the cut in Thailand last week because of injury - I injured my shoulder in the gym and because I practised too much,” he said. “I feel better now but it was slightly sore today.
“I have very good memories in India because I won in 2009 and set the world 72-hole scoring record. This week is important because I have a chance to win again.”
Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera and Australian Kalem Richardson were two shots off the leading pack in a tie for sixth.
Maybank Malaysian Open winner and home favourite Anirban Lahiri was among the afternoon starters and birdied the first two holes before running up a double-bogey six on the fourth and quadruple-bogey eight at the tenth in a two over 73.
His playing partner Miguel Angel Jiménez finished with a 71 thanks largely to a hat-trick of close-range birdies from the 13th.
