Schott edges ahead as Chacarra keeps pressure on at Hero Indian Open

Gurugram: The opening round of the Hero Indian Open unfolded as a tight, momentum-driven contest between two players in fine form.

Germany’s Freddy Schott, who has been enjoying a run of solid performances on the DP World Tour, set the pace with a 6-under 66 to lead by one at the clubhouse in the 59th edition of the US$2.55 million event.

Close behind at 5-under 67 is Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra, who carries the added confidence of being the defending champion as he tees it up in the second stop of the Tour’s Asian Swing.

The duo’s scorecards made for good reading amid the usual mayhem that is associated with the DLF Golf and Country Club, and the point got proved by just 31-under-par rounds on the day.

Respectful, Schott and Chacarra paid homage to this extremely testing Gary Player design, and their contest has the potential to be among the main storylines of Friday during the second round.

England's Dan Bradbury lies sole third after dominating the morning session with a 4-under 68.

It was a slow start by the Indians on Thursday, many of whom list this venue as their home course. Veer Ahlawat emerged the best Indian at level-par 72, riding a late birdie on the 18th. Shubhankar Sharma has work to do as he opened with at 5-over 77 to be placed T98.

Hero MotoCorp’s Global Brand Ambassador Akshay Bhatia, a three-time PGA Tour winner and fresh from his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, had a shaky start. Starting with a double bogey on the 10th, it threatened to get out of hand as Bhatia kept dropping shots. This included a disastrous triple bogey on the 15th when he hit the wrong ball with his second shot resulting in a 2-stroke penalty.

Sanity was restored on making the turn for Bhatia, and the flawless 3-under over the final nine gives hope for Day 2 after he finished T98 at 5-over 77.

Francesco Molinari fared a tad better, but it was a grind for the Italian as well. Teeing off in the afternoon session, the 2018 Open champion started well, but dropping shots at regular intervals cancelled out the good work, and he finished level-par and in a tie for 32nd.

Clearly, Schott is among the men in form this week. The breakthrough moment at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship in February got punctuated by some slow weeks, but the way in which the German built his case on Thursday, he is lined up for another meaningful result.

Schott was six-under and bogey free through his first 13 holes, and looked good to add to the lead. Dropping shots twice in the space of four holes put paid to that ambition, but he did well to surge by one with the birdie on the 18th.

“I played pretty much flawless on a golf course that is easily the toughest on Tour,” he said.

The win in Bahrain acting as a catalyst to keep going undeterred, Schott passed the test of patience that this golf course demands with some thoughtful strategy.

“I was conservative off the tee, and aggressive on the greens,” he said. With 54 holes left to play, Schott is aware he will need to keep hitting it well off the tee, find the right areas, and putt well.

Despite not being in the best form coming into the scene of his last year’s breakthrough, Chacarra has a solid ally to rely on, and he showed how memories can aid a successful campaign.

Add to this the belief that he is best player in the world when playing at his best, the Spaniard’s rally proved he backs himself to make it a title double.

One-over after five holes, Chacarra said the good vibes helped in the faultless recovery thereafter. The shot separating him from Schott can disappear in the blink of an eye, but Chacarra isn’t focusing on it yet.

He terms the DLF Golf and Country Club, as a “real golf course”, and one needs “all the clubs in the bag” to cope with it.

Ahlawat could have finished better, but getting overly aggressive on some of the holes cost him. Featuring in the afternoon, Ahlawat wanted to make the most of the calm conditions, and while he gained some ground in the endeavor, the slump towards the close of the front nine pegged him back.

Play was suspended at 6:40 pm due to darkness with three players, Mohd Azhar (+1), Tom Vaillant (+2), Clement Charmasson (+4), yet to finish. They will return to complete their round at 7.35 am on Friday.

Tags : Golf, DP World Tour, Eugenio Chacarra, Freddy Schott, Hero Indian Open