McGrane on fire in Indian Masters

Damien McGrane hit a five under par 67 to trail India's Jyoti Randhawa by just two shots after the first round of the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters.

Course specialist Randhawa carded a superb seven under par 65 at Delhi Golf Club to lead from McGrane and England's Richard Finch.

Randhawa reached the turn in 34 but it was coming for home that he truly turned on the fireworks with eagle threes on the course’s two par fives on the inward half, the 14th and the 18th, the latter ensuring huge cheers from the packed stands.

McGrane said: “It’s a fairly demanding course and it is difficult to get up and down consistently out there, the ball reacts differently on every shot and every putt.

“So it is about making birdies whenever you get the opportunity and keeping bogeys off the card as much as possible.”

Three players shared fourth place, another Indian favourite Shiv Kapur, Spain’s José Manuel Lara  and Denmark’s Thomas Björn.

The Dane – who partnered favourite Ernie Els who struggled to an opening 75 – dropped a shot at the last but carded five birdies elsewhere in a tidy four under par 68.