Rain makes it slow for golfers on Day 1 of DP World India Championship

New Delhi: Heavy rains made the Delhi Golf Club fairways somewhat mushy and greens slow on Thursday as players had to wade to get through the first round. The month of October sees very little rain, but the opening day of the DP World India Championship proved to be different.

Over four hours of rain meant that some players -- starting as late as 4 pm -- could not finish their rounds while many returning after the break to find the course tough.

Lack of proper, modern-day drainage coupled with the fact that the course is low-lying makes drying the surface a tough task. Not only the ball doesn't race on the greens, there is the risk of players slipping.

Rory McIlroy, who ended the Day 1 in Tied 13th place said, "The course is playing a bit tougher than it did last year.... it took a little while to get going after the break."

McIlroy, who ended with two-under, did admit that the rains had an impact on the greens.

"They got a little slower, but they were still smooth."

Play had to be suspended for four hours and 50 minutes, a period long enough to allow McIlroy to return to hotel for rest and lunch and then return.

Denmark’s Niklas Nørgaard in action on the first day

Om Prakash Chauhan, who ended Day 1 at four-under 68 to be tied-fifth alongside three Scottish players - Scott Jamieson, Ewen Ferguson and Robert MacIntyre and Englishman Marcus Armitage and Poland’s Adrian Meronk at the same score, was even more candid.

"It changed a lot after the rains. I couldn't attack the greens with aggression as they had become very slow," said Chauhan after the day.

Chauhan is not using driver at all.

"At DGC, you don't need a driver. I only keep it for emergency like when I fall short on a hole and have to make up the distance... I have played here so many times that I know which clubs to keep in the bag."

Meanwhile, the leader after the first day was Denmark’s Niklas Nørgaard, who has twice finished tied second this season. He finished the day with a birdie to end at six-under 66.

Nørgaard himself was surprised with the result on a course where there is little use of the driver, something he relies on a lot.

“I'm very, very happy. Bit surprised as well. This (course) should not suit me at all. It pretty much just neutralizes my best weapon, which is my driver. But I just managed to make no big mistakes, put the irons in play, and putt pretty well. I am very, very happy to be able to finish today before darkness,” he said after the day.

Nørgaard, who hails from Denmark, spent time on the Nordic Golf League, where he had three wins, and the HotelPlanner Tour before winning his breakthrough DP World Tour title at the age of 32 at the British Masters in 2024.

The Dane is coming off a couple of impressive outings, including a runner-up finish at the Alfred Dunhill Links a fortnight ago and a Tied 2nd at the British Masters in August.

Tags : Niklas Nørgaard, Om Prakash Chauhan, DP World India Championship, Golf, Rory McIlroy