Mexico City: India’s Shubhankar Sharma made two nice birdies over the last four holes to ensure a solid start with a score of one-under 70 to be placed tied 19th after the first round of the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship here.
Shubhankar, 22, who catapulted into global fame by leading after 54 holes on his PGA Tour debut at the 2018 edition, is now tied 19th on a day, when Rory McIlroy (63) and Dustin Johnson (64) pulled themselves well clear of the field at the Par-71 Chapultepec Golf Club.
Last year Shubhankar finished tied ninth at the USD 10.25 million tournament here. Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat produced his best opening round of the year on the PGA TOUR, carding a three-under 68 for a share of the seventh spot. Kiradech traded five birdies against two bogeys to trail first round leader McIlroy, who enjoyed a blistering 63 featuring an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey.
China’s Haotong Li dropped two late bogeys to settle for a 69, leaving him in tied 11th, while Shubhankar had a roller-coaster day with four birdies against three bogeys. Shubhankar bombed some big drives around 350-yards and over and hit 13 of the 18 greens in regulation.
Atwal shoots even par
Rio Grande: Indian golfer Arjun Atwal, playing his first PGA Tour event this season, shot even par 72 to be placed tied 58th at the end of the first round of the Puerto Rico Open here. Atwal, the only Indian to have won a PGA Tour title, back in 2010, had three birdies and three bogeys Thursday. Also playing in the field is Swede Daniel Chopra, who shot 75 and is tied 103rd. On a day which had unpredictable, swirling winds, Argentina’s Andres Romero played steady to fire six-under-par 66 at the Coco Beach Golf Club.