NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 2: It was a good opening day for me at the $200,000 Hero Honda Masters at the DLF Golf and Country Club. Four-under with some solid play overall, well, I couldn't have asked for a better start. Except for one hole, the 16th, where I dropped a shot, my play was fine. There was also the knowledge at the back of the mind that I have played on this course of course so have many of my colleagues too and that helps.I did have a good third place finish at the HT ProGolf a fortnight ago and I don't want to repeat any of the mistakes I made on some holes then. My round was not spectacular, but at the same time, I don't think I am playing weak in any area. I had five birdies, but was a little disappointed to drop a shot at the 16th, where I three-putted from 25 feet. Still I will take a four-under for the first day.Scott Kammann of the United States is leading the field with a six-under card. I must confess I have not seen Scott play. I believe he only has a limited Asian PGA Tour card and this is only his second event in Asia. We had better watch out for him the next three days.The Indians had some good scores. Ali Sher also shot a four-under 68 and was among those on top of the leaderboard. Gaurav Ghei and Uttam Singh Mundy had three-under each. Ali Sher's game is coming back and he is always a tough customer, while Gaurav is in great form this season. Remember he shot an 18-under two weeks ago at this course. That gives any player a slight mental edge. Amandeep Johl and Digvijay went two-under, and Jeev Milkha Singh shot one-under, which could have been a couple of strokes better, but for a double bogey when he went into the water on the second. Jyoti Randhawa shot an even par but he is always a tough one in a big event.Somebody asked me if there was some kind of tentativeness about a new course. I would say yes and no. For many of us, who play regularly on the Asian PGA, a new course is nothing new. You have to get used to it. But what does play on the mind are aspects like the greens. The greens at this course can be tricky as they were today. The pin positions were tough but nothing that should give us sleepless nights.As for the next three days, I need to concentrate and not play any loose hole and drop shots. The course is great and the scores are going to be low. Right now, there's too many up there in striking distance to hazard early guesses.(Tiger Sports Marketing)
