SSP Chowrasia T4 at Made in Denmark

August 14, 2014. SSP Chowrasia is flying the Indian flag high on the eve of Independence Day tied fourth at the inaugural Made In Denmark tournament. With a R1 total of one under par 70, Chowrasia is four shots from the leader Thomas Bjorn and tied with eight others including Peter Lawrie, Nicolas Colsaerts and Thorbjorn Olesen.

Chowrasia picked early birdies on 2nd, 3rd and 5th and later on the 13th and 14th. Going into the next round on Friday he will be hoping to convert this good form to move further up the leaderboard. The weather conditions haven’t been easily with the wind picking up speed for the second half of the round.

Home hero Thomas Björn delighted the large crowds by sharing the clubhouse lead with Felipe Aguilar and Bradley Dredge during the windy opening round with a five under par 66.

The hosts’ most successful player led outright midway through his round, which he started on the tenth hole, but he was caught by the Chilean and Dredge amid gusts of 25 mph at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort.

Björn opened with four straight pars before birdies at the 14th and 15th took him to the turn in 34.

The world number 24 and 15 time European Tour winner made back to back birdies at the third and fourth to lead by two shots on four under par.

Björn said: “It was a tricky day today with the wind, especially on my back nine. But I drove the ball really well and that gives you opportunities on this golf course.

“So I’m happy with the day, happy with the start and it was pretty solid all the way round.

“There are a couple of holes out there you have to be careful and be happy to walk off with par. I put in a nice effort today.”

Björn is bidding to make certain of his Ryder Cup place, having occupied an automatic qualifying spot since winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December last year.

The 43 year old dropped out of the European points list recently and is now relying on the world points list, but looks to have done enough to make the European team which will defend the trophy at Gleneagles in September.