JOIN USSuperb Sanjay in tied second spot on day one
Sanjay was the highest-placed Indian at tied second with a bogey-free four-under 68, comprising a couple of birdies on the front and the back nines. Shamim carded a three-under 69 which contained five birdies and a couple of bogeys.
The top spot was claimed by Korean Kim Hyung-sung, who returned a blemish-free five-under 67. Hyung-sung held a one-stroke lead over the field.
“I’m so happy. My putting was very good. I holed three long putts from about 10 yards at the 17th, 18th and third holes. It was good to keep the card bogey-free. It’s my first time to India and after today’s good score, I like this course,” he said.
“It’s a difficult golf course. Your tee shots need to be good. I hit many drivers off the tee, maybe about 10 holes. I was aggressive,” the 30-year-old, who battled a shoulder injury earlier this year, said.
The second spot was shared by Thai Nanchok Tantipokakul, Korean Baek Seuk-hyun, Australian Marcus Both, South African Jbe Kruger and Sanjay. Among the 49 Indians in fray, Ashok Kumar, Gaurav Pratap Singh and Ranjit Singh also opened with three-under cards to share the seventh spot with Shamim.
Atwal, a major draw at the event after his breakthrough PGA Tour title win in August, struggled and ended up bartering a couple of birdies for three bogeys to lie at one-over. The Orlando-based golfer was tied 45th along with Digvijay Singh and Vijay Kumar.
The 37-year-old, who started on the 10th, blamed it on lack of practice and his poor short game.
“It was a good 73. I just didn’t hit well, I didn’t find the greens and I couldn’t putt. Still a 73, which is why I say it is good!” he said.
“I think it is just off-season rust showing up. I need to go and hit a few balls. I need to get the alignment right.”
The two-under group featured PGTI regulars. Manav Jaini, Himmat Rai, Chirag Kumar and Ashok Kumar shared the 10th spot even as the stars made a rather slow start.
At one-under was back-nine starter Shiv Kapur, who found birdies on the 14th, second and sixth against bogeys on the 12th and seventh to be tied 20th.
“It was a frustrating day. I was hitting the greens fine, I hit 16 greens, but putting let me down. I just could not hole anything. I am going to try my old putter, the one with which I won the Volvo Masters in 2005. I am bringing it out and am going to give it a try,” Kapur said.
Three-time champion Jyoti Randhawa lay tied 33rd after opening with an even-par 72. Among those who shared the spot with him was 19-year-old Rashid Khan.
The Asian Games team silver-medallist managed a couple of birdies against an equal number of bogeys.
Indian-origin Swede Daniel Chopra’s wretched form continued as he carded a two-over 74 to be tied 54th. Much worse was defending champion C Muniyappa, who is battling a sore back. Muniyappa was in danger of missing the cut after returning a nightmarish eight-over.