Rahil Gangjee, Dhruv Sheoran among Top 10 on Day 1 of DP World India event

New Delhi: Army boys Dhruv Sheoran and Yuvraj Sandhu impressed as they returned as the best Indians along with seasoned professional Rahil Gangjee on the first day of the ongoing DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club.

Gangjee’s 55-footer putt on the 18th hole helped him move into Tied-4th place with five-under 67 amid great challenge for putters. Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who reeled off five birdies in a row, was the sold leader with eight-under and Japan's Keita Nakajima (65) was second.

Dhruv Sheoran shot 4-under 68 with four birdies and an eagle against two bogeys. He is in Tied-7th place, meaning there are two Indians in the top 10.

Yuvraj Sandhu, the current leader on the PGTI Order of Merit, carded 3-under 69, and is Tied-17th.

Anirban Lahiri and Abhinav Lohan carded 2-under 70 each to be Tied-28th.

“I've only played this place a thousand times, so I'm not shocked the way I played. But having seen my results in the last eight months, I wasn't expecting it. Made some changes to my putting stroke, my putting grip. So I'm glad it's working out. That's all I can say,” said Gangjee after the first round.

Sheoran, who began with an eagle on the first and had birdies on the 5th, 11th, 14th and the 17th holes besides a bogey on the ninth, said it is a dream come true for him to play alongside the stars. But he struggled with the winds.

“We are given compass on the yardage books and we check every morning where the wind is coming from. But it wasn’t matching in real time on the course. After 13 holes it changed, I was going with personal visuals. I felt it is headwind but actually down left-right so it came out hot for me,” said Sheoran, who picked golf as a 10-year-old while walking alongside dad at the National Defence Academy.

“It feels amazing, I would like thank all of them (star players) for coming here.”

Sandhu said discipline is the key at Delhi Golf Course.

“I stayed disciplined off the tee, that is what DGC demands. I had a hot putter from about 15-odd feet to the hole. I had a clean card otherwise. I was patient throughout. That is what DGC demands. I started off with a birdie, then hit one again on the eighth. On the back nine, putter didn’t stand out from 15 feet, it was a whisker here and whisker there. I am hoping for putts to drop tomorrow,” said Sandhu, who picked golf in Northeast India where his father was posted with the army.

Tags : Rahil Gangjee, DP world India Championship, golf, Dhruv Sheoran, Yuvraj Sandhu