Big-hitting Nørgaard is surprise early leader at weather-hit DPWIC

Denmark’s Niklas Nørgaard overcame weather interruptions and the challenge of a narrow course to hold the clubhouse lead after day one of the $4 Million DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday. Image courtesy DPWIC.

Big-hitting Nørgaard is surprise early leader at weather-hit DPWIC

By Rahul Banerji

Denmark’s Niklas Nørgaard turned in a birdie-birdie finish to hold a one-shot clubhouse lead on a stormy opening day of the DP World India Championship on Thursday.

A thunderstorm midway into the morning session at the Delhi Golf Club forced players off the course for four hours and 50-odd minutes but the big-hitting Nørgaard shrugged off the interruption to shoot a 6 under par 66 for the early event lead.

Former DP World PGTI merit topper Om Prakash Chouhan opened strongly with a 4 under 68 to hold down a place in the top five of the $4 million tournament that has drawn one of the strongest-ever field in India.

Starting from the 10th tee, the Mhow golfer was bogey free with two birdies to his credit till the turn. His second nine was more eventful with four gains against two dropped shots for a solid 68.

Compatriot and Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar was next best at tied 29th on 1 under 71 while three Scots — Robert MacIntyre, Scott Jamieson and Ewen Ferguson — and England’s Marcus Armitage were alongside Chouhan in tied fifth place.

Abrupt end

Poland’s Adrian Meronk was also on 4 under but he could only complete five holes before play was called off in fading light.

Former Indian Open winner Eugenio Chacarra of Spain was also at 6 under coming to his 18th hole but a bogey saw him slip back Into a three-way tie for second with Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and Thomas Detry of Belgium on 5 under 67.

The in-form Chacarra is second in the Race to Dubai Rankings behind Patrick Reed of the US who was 2 over after four holes alongside Shubhankar Sharma and Shiv Kapur amongst others.

Reed, Chacarra, event favourite Rory McIlroy and Casey Jarvis of South Africa are all in contention to top the DP World Tour’s Order of Merit that looks like going down to the wire in Dubai next month.

World no. 2 McIlroy opened with a 70, while Reed and Jarvis were yet to complete their rounds, with 12 players could not even tee off in round one due to the weather delay.

Nørgaard has picked up pace in the season’s second half with runner-up finishes at the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo in August and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month month.

Caught napping

The Dane had an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys on the day, saying he was surprised to have scored that well on the narrow layout that reduces use of his favoured driver.

“I’m very, very happy,” he said later. “Bit surprised as well. This should not suit me at all. 

“It pretty much just neutralises my best weapon, which is my driver. But I just managed to make no big mistakes, put the irons in play, and putt pretty well.

“Had a tough year until and it’s just I think what happened at Belfry made me regain my confidence. I didn’t think that I’d been playing that bad but I just needed something to spark it and that’s what the Belfry did.

“I’ve been playing good since.”

Fast start

Chacarra started strongly from the 10th tee with four birdies in his opening six holes before giving away two shots, the second one on the par-4 ninth.

“Need to play here more often I guess,” said Chacarra, who has a win and a runner-up finish in India at the Hero Indian Open.

“I just love the greens. I can see the breaks better than in other places. I know the lie and what it is. I’ve been having good greens, like reading and good putts made when I play here, and today was kind of the same.

“I’m feeling good, mentally fresh and excited for what’s ahead.”

Also starting on the tenth, McKibbin rattled off four birdies in a row before the turn and had just the one blemish on his card while Detry carded a double-bogey and a bogey to go with his eight birdies.

Incidentally, Faldo and former England Test captain Kevin Pietersen are part of a three-member team presenting The Locker Room broadcast twice a day on the DP World Tour’s YouTube channel. 

Also read: Heavyweight contests on the cards at DP World India C’ship