DP World Tour news: Yannik Paul the first-round leader at Indian Open amid strong local showing
- Planet Sport writer
- 23 February 2023
Germany's Yannik Paul produced a blistering finish to claim the first-round lead at the Hero Indian Open on a day that saw several home favourites perform strongly.
Paul's round started with a bogey and he was level par after eight holes, but he birdied seven of the last 10 to card an opening 65 at DLF Golf and Country Club.
That gave the 28-year-old a one-shot lead over India's Honey Baisoya, with Finland's Mikko Korhonen in third place on five under.
"I obviously played well today," said Paul, who finished second in the Thailand Classic last week.
"I knew it was a challenging course but I just tried to focus on one shot at a time. I had a great finish, four birdies in the last four, that helps, but tomorrow is a new day so I'll focus on what I can control and see where I end up.
"It's my sixth week in a row so I took it pretty easy Monday through Wednesday.
"I just played a nine hole pro-am on Wednesday afternoon and then walked the back nine on Tuesday, just to conserve as much energy as I could because I knew it would be challenging here, mentally as well as with the golf shots."
Paul's late surge saw him overhaul long-time leader Baisoya, the world number 1,108 carding eight birdies and a double bogey on the 14th in his 66.
Compatriots Shubhankar Sharma and Angad Cheema both shot 68 as the home players enjoyed the return of the event to the DP World Tour schedule for the first time since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The Indian Open means a lot for the Indians and we played a lot of tournaments here," Baisoya said. "They're used to this course and it means a lot to them."
Defending champion Stephen Gallacher bogeyed three of his last five holes as he struggled to an opening 77.
