Siddikur
Niall Turner carded an opening round 75 at the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta, picking up just two birdies on Thursday and dropping shots on five holes - 11, 15, 16, 4 and 5 - to sign for a three over par round. The Muskerry golfer will need a good return on Friday to avoid missing the cut and stay the weekend.
Siddikur fired a sparkling six-under-par 66 to take the first round morning lead at the Indonesian Masters on Thursday but has world number two Lee Westwood trailing by two.
The man from Bangladesh fired two superb chip-ins in ideal scoring conditions to hold a one stroke lead from a chasing pack at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee with countryman Prayad Marksaeng posted solid 67s that was matched by Singaporean Lam Chih Bing, Filipino Antonio Lascuna and Koreans Park Hyun-bin and Hwang In-choon in the US$750,000 showpiece.
Westwood of England battled to a 68 to share eighth place with local hope Rory Hie, Malaysia’s Ben Leong, Darren Beck of Australia and Mo Joong-kyung of Korea. If Westwood wins this week and Luke Donald does not in the United States, Westwood will regain his world number one spot from Martin Kaymer.
Siddikur continued his rich vein of form after finishing in tied eighth place in last week’s Maybank Malaysian Open. He was second at the SAIL Open in India last month, losing only by one stroke to Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand.
The Bangladeshi, who started from the 10th tee, said he was lucky to take the lead after holing out from 15 and 30 feet on holes 10 and two respectively.
“I was hitting and putting very well and it has been like this for a few weeks now. I’m getting more confidence every week and that’s why I’ve been playing so well,” said the 2010 Brunei Open winner.
He admitted feeling nervous playing with world number two Westwood. “I saw the draw yesterday and was feeling a bit excited playing with one of the best players in the world. I have to admit I felt a bit shaky this morning playing with Westwood,” he said.
Thongchai, a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, who played with Siddikur and Westwood turned in 30 highlighted by an eagle before dropping a costly double bogey after the turn.
“I was distracted by a camera and lost concentration from there on. I missed a lot of good putts on the back nine but made birdie on the last to put myself near the leader,” said the decorated Thai, who found 15 greens today.
Lam was six-under through 12 holes but wobbled in his closing holes with one birdie against two bogeys.
“I haven’t been playing that great this year but got off to a good start by hitting my shots close to the hole. That got me going and I started making a few putts. It seems like things aren’t clicking in my game but I feel that I’m pretty close to returning to my best,” said Lam, who has won once on the Asian Tour.
Westwood was unperturbed by the fact that he has a chance of regaining the world number one spot this week.
“I’ll let things take its course and see what happens at the end of the week. Like I said before, I’m here to win a golf tournament,” said Westwood, Europe’s number one in 2000 and 2009.
He struggled to get his putter on fire but birdied his closing two holes to put himself two strokes from the lead.
“I played solidly but I was a bit frustrated out there. It has been the story for me so far, hitting it great from tee to green and giving myself a lot of chances but not taking it,” added the Englishman.
