New Delhi: Local favourite Jyoti Randhawa fired a seven-under-par 65 to take a two-shot lead after the Indian Masters first round on Thursday while world No.4 Ernie Els struggled to a 75.
Randhawa, who won the Asian Tour's Indian Open at the same Delhi Golf Club (DGC) venue in 2006 and 2007, mixed two eagles at the 14th and 18th with three birdies in a flawless display.
Briton Richard Finch and Irishman Damien McGrane returned 67s on a cloudy afternoon to tie for second place in the event co-sanctioned by the Asian and European tours.
India's Shiv Kapur, Dane Thomas Bjorn and Jose Manuel Lara of Spain were joint fourth on 68.
The efforts of the leading players contrasted sharply with those of South African Els who slumped to a quadruple bogey nine at the long 18th, his ninth hole.
"The DGC, what can I say?," Indian No.1 Randhawa said.
"It doesn't leave me alone. I couldn't have asked for a better first round." McGrane, who collapsed from tied fifth to tied 44th in last week's Dubai Desert Classic final round, had seven birdies and two bogeys.
Complete contrast
"After three weeks in the desert (in Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi) it (the course) was a complete contrast," said the Irishman.
Englishman Finch started with a birdie and an eagle before recovering from two bogeys on the front nine with four more birdies on the inward half.
Bjorn, who partnered Els and India's Jeev Milkha Singh, collected five birdies before dropping a stroke at the last.
"It was a good day. I played pretty solid until the last three holes," said Bjorn, a nine-times winner on the European Tour.
"I was conservative off the tee on most holes and took a couple of chances."
Els, who blew his victory attempt in Dubai after going into the final round as leader, needed to take two penalty drops after twice finding thick fairway bushes at the 18th.
India's C Muniyappa used a four-iron to register a hole-in-one at the 201-yard, par-three 12th. He was one of 10 players on 69 including American Mark O'Meara.
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