Intro:

Five players shared the lead after the opening round of the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi on Thursday.

Script:

Warm hazy sunshine and a little bit of breeze for the opening day of the Indian Open at the testing, tight course at the Delhi Golf Club.

It proved to be a bit of a struggle for Anirban Lahiri.

The winner of the Malaysian Open a couple of weeks ago made a quadruple bogey eight at the tenth hole, but he actually fought back quite well with a couple of birdies on his way in. Eventually carding a two over par 73.

Miguel Angel Jimenez took a while to warm up - even par through the first nine holes, the Spaniard began to find his rhythm on the back nine.

A fine approach shot at the 13th kick-started a run of three birdies for Jimenez, just a day after not being selected as Ryder Cup captain, to help lift him to a round of one under par.

Not much room at the top of the leaderboard with a host of players jostling for contention.

One of them is defending champion Siddikur Rahman - the Bangladeshi opening up with a bogey-free round of 65 to give him a share of the lead.

Chapchai Nirat is also six under - the Thai hardly playing a ball out of position in a blemish-free round. This his fantastic approach setting up a tap in birdie at the 13th.

India's SSP Chawrasia set the pace after going out early - also on six under after a very tidy opening round.

Joining him on 65 is Richard Lee of Canada who is also in the mix, whilst Sweden's Joakim Lagergren is the other man on six under par going into the second round.