DOHA: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar shot an opening five-under-par 67 yesterday to share eighth place on his tournament debut at the $2.5m Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club.
Compatriot Shiv Kapur later carded a bogey-free 68 to lie in a share of 14th along with Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee, who is making his 12th appearance at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the second leg of The European Tour’s three-part ‘Desert Swing’.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, who won the last of his four European Tour titles in 2012, opened with a 71 that included three birdies and two bogeys.
Local teenager Ali Al Bishi began his bid to become the first Qatari to make the cut in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters with a one-over 73, while 19-year-old compatriot Saleh Al Kaabi ended with a 78.
Bhullar, who finished 10th in Abu Dhabi last week, was delighted with his first round, which he played with Spanish legend Jose Maria Olazabal and England’s James Morrison.
The big-hitting 25-year-old teed off on 10 and started with three straight birdies before adding two more on 16 and 17. On the front nine, he bogeyed the second, but made up for it with a birdie on five.
Although Bhullar is playing in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters for the first time, he has blossomed on the Championship Course in his previous appearance at Doha Golf Club, when only a teenager.
“This is my first time playing this tournament, but I played this course back in 2006 for the Asian Games and all I remember is that we guys (India) won the silver medal so obviously Doha is really close to my heart,” said Bhullar, who now has a full card on The European Tour after developing his career on the Asian Tour, where he won five times.
“I played well today. I got off to a really good start and was three-under after three holes. I think the conditions we got were ideal, so I’m really looking forward to the rest of the tournament.”
Bhullar is proud to be one of three Indians in the field along with Kapur and Singh, a European Tour veteran, and believes more of his compatriots will join them on the circuit in the coming years.
“We guys have graduated from the Asian Tour, although Jeev has been playing on The European Tour for many, many years. It feels really nice to have us all here and that more and more Indians are moving on to the next level. That’s how the Indian golf community is going to grow,” said Bhullar, who retains a card on the Asian Tour.
“I’m going to give 100 per cent on The European Tour this season, but obviously compete in all the big tournaments and hopefully win one of the co-sanctions this year.”
Kapur, who is back on The European Tour after winning back his card on last year’s Challenge Tour, teed off on 10 and opened with a birdie. He added three more at 13, 15 and 16 before shooting 11 successive pars.
“I’m happy with that, given the conditions. There was a score to be had as it was quite mild, as usually it can get quite windy. But the greens were getting a bit bumpy because of all the traffic, so it’s tough to hole putts late in the day,” said Kapur, who spent seven years on The European Tour before losing his card after the 2012 season.
“Any time you shoot a bogey-free round around here, you have to be pretty pleased because this is the kind of course that can come and bite you at any time.”
Al Bishi, 19, gave himself a fighting chance of becoming the first Qatari to make the cut with a one-over opening round. Two years ago, the then 17-year-old shot rounds of 84 and 81 on his tournament debut, but is now bigger, better and wiser.
“I’m quite happy. Actually I could have played better, but I missed on a couple of holes. I think 73 is very close for the cut, so I will do my best tomorrow,” said Al Bishi, who qualified for the tournament by finishing with Al Kaabi as the top two Qataris in this month’s Qatar Open Amateur Championship. “It’s a big improvement on the last time I played. I’ve been practising a lot and playing many tournaments, so I’m happy overall. I don’t mind the changes they’ve made to the course to make it harder, as I think I can finish under par.” THE PENINSULA
