GOLF | Venetian Macau open Lahiri ahead after 1st round

MDT is the principal media sponsor of the Venetian Macau Open

It was an overcast day yesterday with some scattered showers at the Macau Golf and Country Club, but this did not stop players at the Venetian Macau Open putting up a good performance. After the first round, Indian star golfer Anirban Lahiri delivered an impressive 10-under-
par 61 and was leading the tournament by one shot from in-form defending champion Scott Hend of Australia.
Lahiri, currently second on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, brilliantly sank a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole at the Macau Golf and Country Club to post his career low round and surpass last year’s record-equaling 62 in the final round which saw him finish runner-up.
With India celebrating Diwali, which is known as the Festival of Lights, Lahiri, who is a four-time Asian Tour winner, was delighted to deliver the cheers to his fans back home as he took full advantage of unchallenging conditions at the par-71 Macau course.
“It’s a great Diwali and happy Diwali to everyone back home. It’s nice to have some fireworks on the course,” smiled Lahiri, who needed only 22 putts for his round.
“It’s fantastic. I really played solid all day and it was nice to get such fantastic weather and putt well. I think I did really well inside of the 15 feet mark. I think this is the best I’ve putted for a while,” he said.
Scott Hend, who was in the group in front, set the clubhouse target after a brilliant inward 29 while Anirban Lahiri, who had eight birdies on the card, including four in a row from the 12th hole, finished his day in style when he found the par five 18th green with two mighty blows before rolling in his eagle.
“I knew he (Hend) birdied 17 and 18 and when I got to 18, I saw he was on nine-under. I told my caddie that last year, we got it to nine-under and let’s see if I can hole this 15-footer. It would be really nice to have the course record (Note: it is an unofficial record as the preferred lie rule was in effect),” Lahiri said.
Meanwhile, big-hitting Hend, who won the Hong Kong Open last week for his sixth Asian Tour title, carried on with his fine form. His back nine was truly brilliant where the free-swinging Aussie nailed five birdies and one eagle to enjoy a strong start.
“I just played good, missed a few putts though. The softness from the (overnight) rain made it easier than normal and we were lucky conditions were kind. This course can still jump up and bite you. I’m hitting the ball well, putting well and thinking well. It usually adds up with a bit of luck for a good score,” said the 41-year-old.
“Just the first round, three more days to go … it’s pretty hard to keep the galloping pace up and sometimes, you have to bring the pace back to a little trot,” he said.
Meanwhile, Australian Sam Brazel carded a 64 for third place while Switzerland’s Martin Rominger and another Aussie, Adam Groom produced 65s on the opening day.
Star attractions Ernie Els of South Africa and three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee, who played alongside Hend, settled for 70s to trail the leader by nine shots while Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled to get 72, taking 33 putts.
Macau Daily Times is the media partner of Venetian Macau Open. JPL