CHAWRASIA IS LOCAL HERO IN INDIAN OPEN

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
S S P Chawrasia continued his excellent record in European Tour events on home soil as he claimed a share of the first-round lead at the Hero Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club.
Both of the 36 year old’s previous European Tour wins came in India, and a flawless 66 saw Chawrasia again setting the pace alongside playing partner and in-form Canadian Richard T Lee, Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren and Chapchai Nirat of Thailand.
Lee, a regular on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour, finished fourth in Thailand last week and fifth in Malaysia the week before and continued in the same vein with four gains in an outward 31.
Further birdies at the first and sixth saw the 24 year old join Chawrasia on six under par, before Rahman, Lagergren and Nirat joined the six under par party later in afternoon.
Player Quotes
S S P Chawrasia: “I played very well and was bogey free. I made some good putts and was hitting it good off the tees. It looked easy but it wasn’t!  I’ve played here many times so I know how to play this course. Richard was playing well as well so it was fun to play with him. This is my National Open and all the Indian golfers enjoy playing in this event. I’m not thinking too much on the course, I’m just enjoying myself. All my family and friends are here so that’s nice; I’m playing well and I have good memories here. It wasn’t very windy in the morning so that made things easier. The wind started to pick up after a few holes but I’m used to play in these conditions.”
Richard T Lee: “It’s a really challenging course out there so to finish the day with six birdies and no bogeys is some pretty good golf. You have to hit the right shots at the right times and I managed to make a few putts too. I like playing tight courses like this one. There was a pretty strong breeze out there today as well so when I am playing in those conditions it kind of helps me concentrate a little more. I like challenging courses. It takes a little time to get used to playing so many different courses and conditions. I played great in Malaysia and Thailand but the challenge there was so different. Here it’s tight and bouncy so to play well here after the last two weeks is pretty satisfying.”
Siddikur Rahman: “I played really good golf and made some long putts. My hitting was perfect so that was good. I always look forward to returning to the Delhi Golf Club. This is my favourite course. This is a tight and narrow golf course. I’m a very accurate player so I really like this type of course. You always see me in good positions when I play here. You have to plan your shots here and I know what to do here. I’m very excited to see my name on top the leaderboard. I injured my back last year and it is still bothering me. I hope I will be able to carry on my good form.”
Chapchai Nirat: “My iron and putting were good. I struggled with a shoulder (left) injury and I couldn’t hit the ball at all. I retired in Malaysia and missed the cut in Thailand last week because of the injury. I injured my shoulder in the gym and because I practised too much. I feel better now but it was slightly sore today. I have very good memories in India because I won in 2009 and set the world 72-hole scoring record. This week is important because I have a chance to win again.”
Joakim Lagergren: “That was a really good score. It’s not easy out there because it is such a tight course so I am very happy that everything worked for me today. I didn’t hit a single driver today and will not hit one all week because it is such a tight course. I took two months off from golf because I was so busy last year that I needed to rest and have some time off. It’s going to be a busy week so it was nice to be able to take a break.”
Craig Lee, the only Scot in the field, had a two-over-par 73 and is T80

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