KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 21: Jeev Milkha Singh was lying 15th after dropping a bogey on the ninth hole for a three-under, when play was suspended due to rain in the first round of the Maybank Malaysian Open here today.
Only three of the nine Indians had finished their first round with Shiv Kapur and Digvijay Singh returning even par 72 each and Anirban Lahiri carding a disappointing 74 including three bogeys on the back nine.
Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jyoti Randhawa were one-under through nine and eight holes respectively, while Himmat Rai was one-over after seven. C Muniyappa, playing on a medical exemption, was six-over after nine, and SSP Chowrasia was seven-over after 11.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat continued his fine form to claim the clubhouse lead before thunderstorms forced the suspension. The big-hitting 23-year-old fired eight birdies and a bogey to sign for a seven-under par 65 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
The 2011 Masters Tournament winner, Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, and China’s Wu Ashun stood at four-under through 11 and 12 holes respectively.
World number three Luke Donald carded a two over par 74, while Irishman Padraig Harrington signed for a three-under par 69 in the Malaysian capital.
Jeev had a great start with a birdie on first and an eagle on third. He added a second birdie on seventh to go four-under, but a bogey on ninth put him back to three-under.
“I like playing in Malaysia. It is a great test and you need to stay hydrated. I have great memories of Malaysia, which was where I started my pro career in 1993 -– exactly 20 years ago. I had a super start with second-win-second-win in my first four starts,” said Jeev.
“So I always have positive memories when I come back here.”
Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, Dane Anders Hansen and Italian Edoardo Molinari all carded six under par 66s in the morning, while Scott Jamieson was on the same score having played ten holes when play had to be abandoned for the day. The Scotsman had just eagled the par five tenth.
Aphibarnrat admitted he struggled in the extreme heat and humidity.
“The weather is too hot and my thyroid disease is making me feel tired. I didn’t have enough energy to hit long drives.”
Kiradech has been affected by a thyroid disease, which causes tiredness since the start of the year but it has not prevented him from producing some top finishes.
He was third at the Asian Tour’s season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open, fourth at the Avantha Masters in India last week and also qualified for his maiden appearance at The Open Championship by winning the International Final Qualifying -– Asia in Thailand earlier this month.
Hansen finished with three consecutive birdies and was delighted to have found some form.
“I plodded along all day and all of a sudden the putts started dropping at the end,” he said. (PTI)
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