Report by Anand Datla
May 21, 2015: No more stage fright. On the evidence of the first day at the Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Indian golfers are happy to mix it with the best in the world and stand their ground. On a windy day that demanded patient golf the four strong Indian contingent put on a respectable show at one of the biggest events on the European Tour. Shiv Kapur was the best of the lot, packing in a 70 to end the first round tied in 12th position. Jeev Milkha Singh and Anirban Lahiri both signed off on an even 72 to slot themselves well inside the projected cut line.
The one man who is flirting with the danger of missing the weekend is SSP Chawrasia. Despite a good start, the golfer from Kolkata was lying in T67 at 1-over 73.
Kapur was even through the front nine – a bogey at the third nullified by a fine birdie at the very next hole. But after making birdies at the 10th and 12th holes, the elegant golfer slipped to a triple bogey at the bogey to slip into over territory.
Shiv showed great spirit from there to card three birdies in four holes to reach the clubhouse at two under through 18 holes. The most impressive recovery of the day though was the one made by Lahiri.
Playing in Europe for the first time this season, the Bangalore golfer showed enormous conviction in his game after being two over through 15 holes.
Lahiri started his day with a birdie at the third hole, but bogeys at the 5th and 7th followed by a nasty double bogey at he 13th saw him drop to 2-over with three left to play.
The world No.36 shot a hat-trick of birdies though to finish his day in an emphatic flourish that helped him retire to the clubhouse on even terms with the course.
Jeev continued the same vein of form that saw him finish well in Spain. An eagle at the par-5 fourth indicated that the seasoned Indian may finally be closer to finding some of his vintage form.
Eventually though he only added two more birdies through the day and four bogeys to sign off with a 72 to be tied on 34th alongside Lahiri. Chawrasia was two under through eight holes and slotted inside the top ten on the leaderboard at the time, but a double bogey at the ninth and a bogey at the 10th left him at 1-over.
He added a couple of birdies at 12 and 14, but surrendered bogeys at 13 and 15 to end the first day on a disappointing note. Robert Karlsson and Francesco Molinari, both at 5-under held a one shot lead on a packed sheet, with eleven men within two shots of each other.
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