Anirban Lahiri tees off on day one of the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club on Thursday. Image courtesy DPWIC.
By Rahul Banerji
India’s leading golfer Anirban Lahiri had a scrappy first day in the $4 million DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club on Thursday, battling his way to a 2 under par 70.
Three birdies and a closing bogey gave the LIV Golf star a share of 28th place, but at day’s end Lahiri said he was happy at the way he had fought his way through a nervy opening round.
More than once, Lahiri found himself in the jungle that frames the DGC’s fairways and scrambling to stay in the mix. In the end, the fact that he did so left him pleased with the ay he had handled adversity.
“I didn’t hit it very good, was in fact fighting it left, and I also missed a few putts. All in all though, I’m happy with the way that I finished in the sense I shot 2-under. But I’m going to go to the range and sort some things out.
Rusty game
“The focus was really good. It’s been seven, eight weeks since I’ve played and I’m coming back after a while. I definitely felt some nerves.
“I felt a little tentative in the early part of my round.
“But I’m really happy with how I focused. Like I said, I didn’t have my best game today but I kept it together and I was very good with my strategy. Pretty happy with overall how I handled myself.
“I think this morning was probably some of the best conditions we’re going to get for scoring. As the week goes on you expect it to get harder.
“I think the difference is how you approach the greens because that’s what’s been changed. Off the tee, I don’t think my strategy has changed on any hole.
“The strategies off the tee are the same but with some new pin positions and new greens, you have to be more careful, and you can be more aggressive with some of them. So it’s just on the greens there’s a different approach.
Danger lurks
“On this golf course, you can make a big, big number anywhere. If you hit it offline and you are out of position, a big number is waiting for you.
“When you do hit a bad shot you have to accept your medicine and try and make a bogey or try and escape with a par. I think if guys are going to try and go for the miracle shot, they are going to end up with some big numbers.
“There’s a couple of holes that are difficult. I think 9 is obviously one of the hardest holes here.
“Just depending on the conditions and the wind, you could get some new challenges but I think any hole, you can’t lose your focus.
“Come Saturday and Sunday, you could see a really firm and fast golf course, and I’m actually hoping for that because the golf course will get really tough.”
Sanguine Sandhu
At 3 under 69 after 18 holes, domestic PGTI Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Sandhu shared 17th place alongside event favourite and Grand Slam champion Rory McIlroy.
The Chandigarh golfer exchanged five birdies with two dropped shots and later said he was happy with his shot-making off the tee thoughout the round.
“I think for me, one thing I’m really proud of is I stayed disciplined off the tee, and I was patient throughout the round. You’ve just got to be patient and it will pay you back here.
“I started with a birdie and had birdie looks all the way to the eighth hole where I made one again for a minus two on the front nine.
Close shaves
“In fact was looking at about a 7-under par round but on the back nine I couldn’t place the ball off the tee into the green. Just a whisper here, a whisper there, that’s what golf is.
“I don’t worry about anybody chasing me (for top spot on the Order of Merit). I’m myself chasing my dreams and my goals, to play on the PGA Tour.
“Teeing up at DP and getting my DP World Tour card as soon as possible will just get me one step closer to playing the PGA Tour.
“In fact, I would love for a lot of Indians to have DP World Tour cards and have that pathway to the PGA Tour, the Masters and majors because I think it’s high time that Indian golf gets visibility on a global level.
Also read: Birdie run gives Lowry day one lead at DP World India C’ship
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