March 28, 2019: Stephen Gallacher and Julian Suri fired opening rounds of 67 to take a share of the first round lead at the Hero Indian Open.
Gallacher has often flourished on tough courses throughout his career, and showed he had the measure of DLF Golf and Country Club last season as he recorded a top ten finish in New Delhi.
“It was a perfect morning. Cool to start with and then it heated up later on in the round, and not too much wind, so it was perfect today.
“It is quite a strategic course. I don’t think you need to be the longest player on the Tour to play it, I think you’ve just got to plot your way around it” said Gallacher.
Fast forward 12 months and a sensational putt from off the green at the last handed the Scot a closing eagle and a one shot advantage at five under.
It looked for a long time like he would not be caught in the afternoon but American Suri – who missed the cut in his only appearance here last season – produced some magic of his own on the 18th, playing a sublime bunker shot to set up a closing birdie and join Gallacher at the summit.
“It was a good day. My caddie Dermot, he keeps encouraging me and calls me the Greatest Showman sometimes after the movie, so I had to give him a little show there.
“It’s a great test. It’s very dramatic and provokes the imagination a little bit so I enjoy it”,said Suri.
South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Swede Robert Karlsson, Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal and Thai Prom Meesawat were the nearest challengers, with last week’s winner Scott Hend and local hero Shubhankar Sharma in a nine man group two shots off the lead.
Play will restart tomorrow at 7:40am with one game to finish.
Source: European Tour
