December 12, 2013. India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar is back with a bang after he shot an opening round of 66 to remain tied 4th amid stellar field of Thailand Golf Championship. While, Alex Chezka of Germany has taken first round top position after carding superb eight-under-64 at Amata Spring Country Club on his first marriage anniversary.
World number four Justin Rose produced a flawless seven-under-par 65 to remain joint second along with Thai golfer Arnond Vongvanij on the leaderboard after the day one at Thailand Golf Championship in Chonburi.
Daniel Chopra charged into top five after shooting five-under-67 to lie at fifth position on the leaderboard.
Fresh from Indonesia Open victory for his fifth Asian Tour title two weeks ago, Bhullar was equally impressive as he charged into contention with an outstanding driving display where he hit all fairways en route to seven birdies against a lone bogey.
[highlight]I’m due for a good week, I’m glad that this is the last tournament of the season. This is my 13th straight event [/highlight]
Bhullar finished 58th and 31st in the first two editions of the Thailand Golf Championship.
“This is the first time I’m enjoying a bit of the low 60s. There was a margin of improvement but three more days to work on, and I think it’s a great opportunity for the Asian Tour players to compete against the big names,” said the 25-year-old Indian, who is currently fourth on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.
“It was a steady round. I hit about 15 greens in regulation and drove the ball really good. Hit 13 fairways out of 14, and my putting was pretty much consistent on the back nine, which was my back nine, the golf course front nine.”
The dashing Indian has had a roller-coaster run of form of late. After finishing last at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf in Australia, he went on to win the Indonesia Open title in the following week. He then missed the halfway cut at the Hong Kong Open last week and hopes the upward trend will continue in Thailand.
“I’m due for a good week,” he smiled. “(But) I’m glad that this is the last tournament of the season. This is my 13th straight event. I’m just dying to board the aircraft which is to New Delhi back home.”
But before he ends his season, Bhullar is hoping to enjoy the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best players this week. “We don’t get that kind of chance very often, and whenever we do get a chance like at the CIMB (Classic), WGC (HSBC Champions) and this week, and we are all set to beat those guys,” he said.
Chandigarh golfer, Sujjan singh is second best Indian tied 6th after first round of four-under-68 along with defending champion Charl Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia of Spain and Mardan Mamat of Singapore. C Muniyappa and Anirban Lahiri are tied 22nd with first round of 71 on Thursday.
