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Journalism of Courage
The first day at the Indian Open was not really how it was expected to pan out.
Throughout the build-up to the actual competition,the golfers had sworn that the playing conditions would not be easy. But when the sun settled on the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday,as many as forty four were able to shoot under par scores,with four hitting 7-under or better.
Though he has been doing well at the domestic circuit,winning the PGTI year-ending championship here last year,his best recall value is the Indian Open of 2006 where,playing as an amateur,he chased the leaders and finished tied 10th. It turned out to be quite a breakthrough year as he went on to win the team silver at the Doha Asian Games and later turned pro with Gaganjeet Bhullar teeing alongside him in the Asian Tour Q-school. But while his Asiad teammates Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri went on to repeat their amateur performances on pro circuit,Chiragh was slightly slow off the blocks.
That might just change here. Scoring well on the first day at the Delhi Golf Club is not something he has done for the first time. The 28-year-old knows the turns as well as the back of his hand he has even shot a 64 here before,albeit as a junior. If only the practice rounds counted,I would have better records, Chiragh quipped after the round.
Though he wasnt able to find the same touch at two other Asian Tour events at DGC earlier this year,with eight birdies in a day he looks like he could end his wait for a title. Ive been slow if you compare to Bhullar and others but Im happy with how it has been shaping up in the last one and a half years. Playing more in Asia,my course management is improving. Today,I didnt have any targets but I hit fabulously,read the putts correctly and holed them. Basically,I just kept it simple and Ill do the same tomorrow, Chiragh said.
Earlier,the top spot was a three-way tie at 7-under 65. Taipeis Lin Wen-hong left his disappointment of last week behind he was on the verge of withdrawing from here after being disqualified on the final day in Taiwan,when his caddie recorded a birdie on a hole he had parred and appeared keen to extend a family tradition of producing Asian Tour winners. Ross Bain,is under a different pressure the Scot has played here 20 times but unable to win. Myanmars Zaw Moe is also tied second.
