Firm fairways and grainy greens of the wind-swept DLF Golf and Country Club here tested several illustrious names to the hilt and left them staring at the possibility of missing the weekend action following the opening round of the 1.8 million euros Avantha Masters golf championship.
Even as two-time Major winner John Daly (seven-over 79), who later tweeted at the possibility of pulling out citing an elbow injury, Gaurav Ghei (78), former British Open champion Todd Hamilton, Ashok Kumar (76 each), Sujjan Singh, who finished tied fifth last year, Chawlit Plaphol, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Rahil Gangjee (75 each) struggled, lesser-known campaigners like Scotland's Peter Whiteford and Spain's Alejandro Canizares became the surprise leaders with rounds of 66.
Himmat Rai, who teed off with Whiteford, was the best Indian on view with a 68 on his home course. Tied fourth, Himmat stayed a shot ahead of Jeev Milkha Singh, Anirban Lahiri and Vivek Bhandari on a day when only 46 players out of 132 managed to return sub-par scores.
ADVERTISEMENT
Braving injury
Defending champion S.S.P. Chowrasia braved a nagging wrist injury to shoot a 71, a tally matched by European tour regular Shiv Kapur and Mukesh Kumar.
Whiteford, who has tasted more success on the European Challenge Tour, was pleased with his play that saw him birdie four holes on the trot beginning from the 10th.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It was the first time I've hit the fairways in months. I hit a lot more drivers than people usually do out there and just took advantage of the course and bully it a little. It (the course) can bite you easily if you're not careful,” said the joint-leader.
Canizares caught up with Whiteford after finishing with a long birdie on the ninth hole. The Spaniard shot seven birdies against a lone bogey. “I played very steady and I putted quite nicely. The only mistake I made was missing a short putt on the seventh. But overall it was a nice round with not many mistakes. I had a couple of wayward drives but nothing serious and I felt very comfortable,” said Canizares, son of Jose Maria, who played the Ryder Cup four times and won the World Cup with Jose Rivero in 1984.
Himmat, with five birdies and a bogey, looked in good touch. “I felt in control and was focussed. I have been keeping to my routines and have found that really good. I hit the ball well,” said the youngster whose longest birdie-putt was from 15 feet.
Jeev had an eventful card dotted with an ‘eagle', four birdies and three bogeys. Battling a bout of influenza, the 40-year-old hit the ball well and had several birdie-opportunities. Talking about the 25-foot eagle-putt on the fifth hole, Jeev said, “That was a nice putt to hole, a double-break and an uphill putt. The pin was to the left and I had to hit the centre of the green. That gave a good feel.”
The scores: Alejandro Canizares (Esp), Peter Whiteford (Sco) 66 each; Federico Colombo (Ita) 67, Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Gregory Havret (Fra), Thonchai Jaidee (Tha), Himmat Rai and Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 68).
Indians with sub-par scores: Jeev Milkha Singh, Anirban Lahiri, Vivek Bhandari (69 each); Shamim Khan (70), Mukesh Kumar, S.S.P. Chowrasia and Shiv Kapur (71 each).