In its final seven editions going again to 2015, ever for the reason that Hero Indian Open has been a European Tour (now DP World Tour) occasion, the lower rating has by no means been beneath par. As play resumes on Saturday, after rain and warnings of a thunderstorm curtailed play late on Friday, that might be the case.
On what has had a status for being one among trickiest programs on the tour, the DLF Golf and Nation Membership in Gurugram – particularly in sunny morning situations – has aided low-scoring, aggressive golf for many of the opening two rounds. A lot in order that Norway’s Espen Kofstad broke the single-round course file by capturing a 10-under 62 on Friday.
Final yr’s champion Marcel Siem had shot a formidable 14 beneath par to elevate the title right here, however on the midway stage, Japan’s Keita Nakajima has already matched that after capturing seven-under 65s on successive days – inclusive of a formidable last gap eagle on Friday – to take the lead.
The Fab 4—Keita Nakajima, Romain Langasque, Matteo Manassero, and Jeong Weon Ko—who occupy the highest 4 locations on the finish of a truncated second day on the Hero Indian Open.#HeroIndianOpen2024 #HIO24 @DPWorldTour @HeroMotoCorp @IndianGolfUnion pic.twitter.com/Iqbr4P8K9j
— Hero Indian Open (@TheOfficialHIO) March 29, 2024
France’s Romain Langasque and Italy’s Matteo Manassero observe in second and third at 12 and 11 beneath par respectively.
With much less wind, and the greens not as exhausting as in earlier years, gamers defined how they had been in a position to go for the flag with extra ease – and maybe extra importantly, bought away with a few stray photographs.
“The wind is actually much less this yr after which the greens are actually mushy. So, even when you find yourself lacking it on the fallacious facet, you continue to have an opportunity to make a par in the event you hit a great chip,” Veer Ahlawat, highest-placed Indian at tied-sixth, mentioned.
“The largest distinction from what I’ve heard is that the greens are very mushy in comparison with final yr after they had been agency. That helps as a result of when you may have a wedge in your hand you may go straight on the pin. Even whenever you miss the inexperienced you can also make an up and down in the event you play a great chip,” Langasque concurred.
Regardless of the benign situations although, as issues stand with 46 gamers but to finish their second spherical, solely 8 Indians are slated to make the lower. 16 did so final yr.
Chief among the many handful of Indians that took benefit was Ahlawat, the joint-highest-placed Indian on the Indian Open final yr, ending tied-Thirteenth. He adopted up his regular opening spherical with a free-wheeling six-under 66 to notch a rating of nine-under par.
The 30-year-old was in a position to journey on his ball-striking consistency on his residence course that rewards accuracy over distance. His eagle on the fourth gap could also be his spotlight of the day, however hitting just one bogey, he saved his cool all through.
Manu Gandas, one other DLF golfer, additionally shot seven-under par to take him to tied-Sixteenth, alongside Karandeep Kochhar who hit a two-under 70 on Friday. Gaganjeet Bhullar (five-under) is tied-Twenty second whereas Rashid Khan is tied-Thirty first alongside India No. 1 Shubhankar Sharma, who’s four-under with two holes of his second spherical to go.