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Liang fires in a course record

Rakesh Rao

The Chinese leads Jeev by five strokes

Liang’s 12-under 60 bettered Shiv Kapur’s record by two strokes
Defending champion Randhawa could be in trouble

— Photo: Sandeep Saxena

SWINGING SUCCESS: China’s Liang Wen-Chong had a fantastic time under the sun on the opening day of the Hero Honda Indian Open on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: It was only in the fitness of things that the first ever million-dollar Hero Honda Indian Open should witness a course record at an otherwise punishing Delhi Golf Club course.

China’s Liang Wen-Chong kept getting better with every hole and defied the law of averages as he shot the round of his life — an awe-inspiring 12-under 60. This not only smashed Shiv Kapur’s record of 10-under that came on a similarly warm afternoon of the AIS Open last year, but also to gave Liang a five-stroke cushion.

Jeev Milkha Singh, the strongest home favourite, brought in his best card of 65 on this course to be second on the leaderboard. A stroke behind was Swede Daniel Chopra, along with Sanjay Kumar and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen Teh.

Though Jeev and Chopra had their most productive round in the challenging environs of DGC, the efforts stood dwarfed on a day when Liang was simply magnificent.

Phenomenal putting

Liang, winner of the 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit, was on fire on this warm, windless day. After taking the turn at 31, he sank eight birdies, including the last five, while coming in for a phenomenal 28!

Winner of last year’s Singapore Masters besides seven other professional titles at home, the 30-year-old Liang may not speak English fluently but made it known to all other aspirants that he understood the grammar of the tree-lined course better than anyone else on this day.

"My coach Kel Llewellyn provided me with proper guidance on this course. He has coached here once before and even played a round on this course so his experience was very useful," conveyed the soft-spoken Chinese with his limited knowledge of English.

"I’ve also been seeing a yoga instructor this week. It really helped me relax and provided me with extra strength from within when I was on the course,” revealed Liang and went on, "the tee-shot is the key here. It can be quite intimidating standing on the tee, looking at the narrow fairways ahead but I knew what to do."

Disappointing

On a day when 51 players broke par and 27 others shot par, defending champion Jyoti Randhawa continued his indifferent form for a two-over 74. Placed tied 92nd, Randhawa will have to come up with a much-improved card on Friday to make the ‘cut’ and be part of the action over the weekend.

On the brighter side, Jeev carried the Indian hopes like no other. The highpoint of Jeev’s card was his chip-in ‘eagle’ on the first hole.

He found three birdies on the front-nine after starting from the 10th tee and added two more during the homeward run. This improved his previous best of 66 on this course.

"I was rock solid and consistent. I hit a lot of good bunker and had 100 per cent sand saves. I just did not bring out the driver,’ said Jeev.

On Liang’s dream round, he said, "It was incredible. I have never had anyone shoot 12-under in a tournament I played. A course record by two and that really means something."

Leading scores (Indians unless stated): Liang Wen-Chong (Chn) 60; Jeev Milkha Singh 65, Lu Wen-Teh (Tpe), Sanjay Kumar, Daniel Chopra (Swe), 66; Rick Kulacz (Aus), Simon Griffitsh (Eng), Unho Park (Aus), Atthaphon Prathummenee (Tha) 67; Mukesh Kumar, Prom Meesawat (Tha), Karanjit Sandhu, Chang Tse-Peng (Tpe) 68.

Lam Chih Bing (Sin), Muhammad Munir (Pak), Iain Steel (Aus), Gaurav Ghei, Gavin Flint (Aus), Udorn Duangdecha (Tha), Pornsakon Tipsanit (Tha) 69.

Rafick Ali, Andrew Dodt (Aus), Airil Rizman (Mas), Ashok Kumar, Rahil Gangjee, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha), Harinder Gupta, Jason King (Aus), Rhys Davies (Wal), Angelo Que (Phi), Adam Blyth (Aus), Darren Beck (Aus), Craig Smith (Wal), Himmat Rai and Pijit Petchkasem (Tha) 70.

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