Harman Sachdeva, 18, and Jamal Hossain, 41, both scored five-under 67 to share a one-shot lead in the opening round of the INR 1 crore DP World Players Championship at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Nuh, Haryana. Sachdeva, from Gurgaon, had an impressive round with an eagle, six birdies, and three bogeys, finishing with a birdie on the ninth to tie with Hossain. Hossain, a six-time tour winner, carded an error-free 67 with five birdies.
A group of four players, including Taiga Tanaka from Japan, Chikkarangappa S from Bengaluru, Rohit Narwal from Karnal, and Abhinav Lohan from Faridabad, were tied for third place at four-under 68, one shot behind the leaders. Sachdeva, a recent Qualifying School graduate, highlighted his eagle on the 14th hole as crucial for his round, emphasizing his patience and focus in challenging conditions.
Hossain, the first player to win a DP World PGTI event as an amateur in 2009, expressed satisfaction with his game control despite the windy conditions. He credited his solid driving and putting for seizing opportunities during the round. PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar was tied for seventh place with six others at three-under 69.
