Randhawa sets pace with opening 65

India’s Jyoti Randhawa stole the early thunder in the first round of the US$1.5 million BMW Asian Open today as Irish star Padraig Harrington led the chasing pack.

Randhawa, a four-time winner on the Davidoff Tour, shot a superb seven-under-par 65, which included an eagle, despite tough playing conditions at Ta Shee Golf and Country Club.

Harrington, fresh from another successful season in Europe, enjoyed a bogey-free 66 to launch his challenge and is in joint second place with Germany’s Sven Struver and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber.

Last year’s BMW Asian Open winner Jarmo Sandelin, trying to land an early wedding gift for himself, sparkled as well, firing a flawless 67 to be just two off the pace while American two-time Major winner John Daly carded a 70.

The joint sanctioned BMW Asian Open is the opening leg of the 2002/03 European Tour International Schedule and the third last tournament of this season’s Asian PGA circuit.

As constant rain and winds provided a gloomy backdrop throughout the opening round, the 30-year-old Randhawa wielded a hot putter to spring to the top of the leaderboard. “I putted really well, which was the key to my round … my putter was hot. I read the greens really well,” said the Indian star, who needed 27 putts today.

Ryder Cup hero Harrington, who finished second on the European Order of Merit for the second straight season, hit all 18 greens in regulation with his rock steady game. “I am obviously pleased, more pleased with the three birdies in the first six holes. The weather was bad … it was raining, it was blowing. When you make a few birdies in these conditions, you see that it’s possible to do it.

“I had 18 birdie putts out there and holed six of them. You’ve got to be pleased with that. But I’m not going to have any expectations. I’m not surprised to see an Asian leading because when we come over here, we look at how good they really are but wonder why they don’t have a higher profile on the world scene,” said Harrington, who is ranked world number eight.

A chip-in birdie on the second hole sparked Randhawa’s round, which included an eagle three on the sixth hole, five more birdies and one bogey. Since returning to action in September after being sidelined for six months when a motorbike mishap resulted in a broken collarbone, Randhawa has produced impressive results.

He finished fifth in the European Tour’s Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, which Harrington won last month, was 10th in the TCL Classic in China at the weekend and has not missed a cut in his last seven events.

“Finishing fifth in Scotland gave me a lot of confidence. Once you’ve finished up there in a strong field which included the top-25 players in the world, it gives you the confidence and ability to do it again,” said Randhawa, who has his yoga instructor Sukhdev Singh caddying for him this week.

“After my accident, I couldn’t play for six months and just sitting at home made me think a lot and helped me refresh my mind. I’m now more focussed when I’m playing golf,” he added.

Germany’s Struver, a three-time winner on the European Tour, enjoyed a welcome return to form for an opening 66. He missed the cut in his last six events of the previous European Tour season and ironically, his last pay cheque came at the BMW International Open on home soil.

“I haven’t been playing like this for a long time, it’s just enjoyable. The ball just came off from the middle of the club face. I just played solid,” said the 35-year-old German, who was bogey-free.

The stylish Sandelin, sporting a striking pair of green-coloured golf shoes made of snake skin, was in irrepressible form to knock in five birdies. “I played really solid today, I hit a lot of good shots. It looks like my form is still there after Valderrama (in his previous event in Spain) where I finished sixth. I’ll take it one step at a time,” said Sandelin, who will get married next month.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who currently leads the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit race, began his campaign with a 71 while second-placed Arjun Atwal of India battled to a 72 to be well off the pace. Last year, Thongchai finished tied second in the BMW Asian Open.

Taiwan’s Yeh Wei-tze is the highest-placed local player after shooting a 69 to be in equal 15th position.

Two players – Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark and Swede Anders Forsbrand – could not finish their rounds due to the darkness and will return tomorrow morning.

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