S.S.P. Chawrasia got off to a good start with a three-under 69 that put him at tied 31st on the opening day of the $8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions on Thursday.
S.S.P. Chawrasia got off to a good start with a three-under 69 that put him at tied 31st on the opening day of the $8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions on Thursday.
His higher ranked team mate Anirban Lahiri shot 70 and rued missing a bunch of putts inside 8-10 feet as he was lying tied-44th.
The leader was Branden Grace, the man who won all five matches at the President Cup last month for the International team. Grace shot nine-under 63 and he led the trio of Kevin Kisner, Steven Bowditch and Thorbjorn Olesen by one shot.
Grace posted the lowest opening round in the history of the WGC-HSBC Champions courtesy of a brilliant bogey-free nine under par round. The South African, who won the Volvo China Open in 2012, had five birdies on his opening nine holes and he picked up four more after the turn to move one shot clear of Dane Thorbjorn Olesen, American Kevin Kisner and Australia’s Bowditch.
Three-time Asian Tour winner, Chawrasia, who skipped defending his Panasonic Open India title in Delhi, admitted being disadvantaged by the length of the course at the Sheshan International Golf Club, but made up for it with his precise short game where he made a total of 28 putts.
“Honestly this is a very long course for me and I just have to hit it straight and putt well. I did all of that today and I’m happy with how I’ve played.
“It’s a good start and hopefully I can continue the momentum,” said Chawrasia.
