Rain-Hit India Championship: Om Prakash Chouhan and Saptak Talwar Shine
Om Prakash Chouhan and Saptak Talwar make strong starts at the $4 million India Championship despite heavy rain delays in New Delhi.
The $4 million India Championship kicked off in New Delhi with a blend of high-stakes golf and unpredictable weather. On a rain-marred opening day, Indian golfer Om Prakash Chouhan emerged as the top Indian performer, posting a confident four-under 68 to tie for fifth place in the clubhouse. Joining him in a positive start was Saptak Talwar, the current Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Order of Merit leader, who finished his round at one-under 71.
Weather Disruptions Stall the Action
The day was far from smooth for the players. What began as overcast skies quickly turned into a light drizzle accompanied by lightning threats, forcing officials to halt play at 11 am local time. A subsequent heavy downpour extended the delay to nearly five hours.
Play only resumed at 4 pm, meaning only the morning session—comprising half the field (72 players)—was able to complete their rounds on Thursday.
Chouhan’s Masterclass in Precision
Om Prakash Chouhan, a veteran with 12 professional titles and a former PGTI Order of Merit champion, displayed exceptional form. His round of 68 was highlighted by six birdies and two bogeys, driven largely by pinpoint accuracy on his approach shots.
The 40-year-old's resilience was on full display when he salvaged a birdie on the eighth hole from the rough. However, the moment of the day for Chouhan was a spectacular 15-yard chip-in for birdie on the sixth hole.
"I am very satisfied with my effort considering the conditions and the long stoppage that we had to endure," Chouhan stated. "Before the rain, the greens were firm, and the ball was rolling out, so I had to think carefully about whether to attack the flags. After the rain, I could be more aggressive."
Chouhan attributed his success to his familiarity with the Delhi Golf Club and a recent change in his putter. Interestingly, while he is carrying a driver in his bag, he admitted he does not actually intend to use it during the tournament.
Talwar and Other Indian Contenders
Saptak Talwar also kept the momentum going for the home crowd. Recording three birdies and two bogeys, Talwar expressed satisfaction with his start but noted there was room for improvement.
"Felt like I was rolling the putts well. Just a couple of misreads here and there that I thought were good chances to make a couple of more birdies," Talwar remarked, adding that he aims to tidy up his game around the greens to ensure a strong week.
Other Indian players had varying levels of progress due to the weather stoppages:
- Manu Gandas: One-under after one hole.
- Anirban Lahiri: Even-par through five holes.
- Khalin Joshi: Even-par through three holes.
- Amardeep Malik & Kartik Singh: Both even-par after one hole.
- Manoj S: Completed round with a 73.
- Veer Ahlawat: Completed round with a 74.
- Shubhankar Sharma: Two-over after five holes.
Global Competition Heats Up
While the Indians started strong, the international field provided stiff competition. Denmark's Niklas Norgaard claimed the clubhouse lead with a six-under 66. Meanwhile, heavyweights and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood of England and world number 2 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland both carded scores of two-under on the first day.