Jeev Milkha Singh, the torchbearer of Indian golf, produced a magical display in difficult conditions to shoot a six-under 66 round on the opening day of the US$-300,000 Hero Honda Masters, the 14th leg of the Asian PGA Tour, which started at the par-72 Delhi Golf Club, on Thursday.
Jeev, looking to end a title drought that has stretched way back to October 1999 when he won the Lexus International in Thailand, opened a two-stroke lead over the field.
Former Indian Open champion Vijay Kumar and Mexican Pablo del Olmo were tied second at four-under 68, while current Order of Merit leader Arjun Atwal was among six tied for the fourth place at three-under 69.
Pre-tournament favourite Jyoti Randhawa, winner in 1998 and '99, started his campaign with a one-under 71.
Only 23 players managed to break par as the 122-strong field struggled to come to terms with the new greens and the threatening bushes lining the DGC fairways. Off these, as many as 17 are Indians, including amateur Vikrant Chopra at three-under 69.
Jeev started with birdie and never looked back. Except for a bogey on the tenth, where his tee shot went into the right bushes, he was consistency personified. He made birdies on the first and eighth - both par-5s - to be two-under at the turn.
The bogey on the tenth was followed by a birdie on the 11th, which was set up by a stupendous 9-iron second shot to less than five feet. He then saved a great par on the par-3 12th before reeling in a birdie on the 13th, where he drained an 18 footer, and an eagle on the par-5 14th, where he hit a brilliant 3-iron second shot from the fairway bunker to eight feet.
"I have been playing very well for the past couple of months but haven't been able to hold it together for four rounds. I did not hit the ball as well as I can, but my putting was immaculate. I also made some great saves.
"I just hope I can keep the momentum going for the next three days. The rough is up and the course is playing a lot tougher than before. The new greens will take some time before they start holding," said the four-time winner on the Asian PGA Tour.
Pablo del Olmo was happy with the start and the four-under 68 fitted in well with his plans to finish high enough and retain his Asian PGA Tour card.
"I am currently 57th and would play only one more event this year in Asia as I am going to the US PGA Tour Q-School next week. I have always started well here but messed it up in the later rounds," said the 2002 Volvo China Open runner-up, who made six birdies.
Vijay, who is sponsored by Cosmo Films, submitted a bogey-free card of 68 with birdies on the eighth, 12th, 17th and 18th.
"I hit the ball great today and would have done even better had some of the putts dropped," said the Lucknow golfer who found 16 greens in regulation, but needed 31 putts.
Atwal, who can become the first player to earn more than a million dollars on the Asian PGA Tour with a second place here, put himself in position with a 69. However, the current Order of Merit leader was disappointed on finishing with a bogey on the par-5 18th.
"It is a bit disappointing because the 18th is very much a birdie hole. However, I will take a 69 at the DGC any day. At least I am still in the reckoning," said the Kolkata pro who made five birdies and two bogeys.
Scores (after 18 holes - Indian unless stated): 66 _ Jeev Milkha Singh; 68 _ Vijay Kumar, Pablo del Olmo (Mex); 69 _ Arjun Atwal, Jaiveer Virk, Pappan, Jumman, Vikrant Gupta (A), Pat Giles (Aus); 70 _ Glenn Joyner (Aus), Arjun Singh, Vinod Kumar, Anthony Kang (Kor), C Muniyappa; Ashok Kumar; 71 _ Digvijay Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Ali Sher, Ajay Gupta, Shamim Khan, Rafiq Ali, David Gleeson (Aus), Akinori Tani (Jpn).
Photograph: Sondeep Shankar/ Saab Press
