Bangladesh’s Siddikur overtakes Lee Westwood to grab lead in the first round of Indonesian Masters
Bangladesh’s top golfer Siddikur, with his brilliant play in the first round, has ended up leading the first round of the inaugural Indonesian Masters. Most of the players had completed their first round by the afternoon and Siddikur, with his one shot lead
over South Korean Park Hyun-bin, was on top of the leaderboard.
No less than six players are in contention for the second spot including Thongchai Jaidee, trailing Siddikur with just one shot. Jaidee is joined by Park, Lam Chih Bing of Singapore, Antonio Lascuna of Philippines, Prayad MARKSAENG of Thailand and another
South Korean Hwang Inn-choon.
Siddikur’s score of 6-under for 66 included seven stunning birdies and just one bogey, which came at Par-4 eighth. World number two, Lee Westwood, is just two shots behind Siddikur and is fast catching up to the lead. Siddikur admitted later that he was
nervous playing with the World Number two.
“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. “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.”
The 26-year-old Siddikur finished eighth in last week’s star studded Maybank Malaysian Open, overtaking the likes of world number one Martin Kaymer and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand’s top ranked golfer and three-times Order of the Merit Champion, with his round of 5-under for the second place, was a bit disappointed with the distractions on the course.
“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. Jaidee’s round included five birdies and a glorious eagle
at the Par-5 12th. In what appeared to be his final charge to grab the lead, Jaidee stumbled with a double bogey at the Par-4 first, to lose it to Siddikur.
Westwood vowed to stage a comeback in the next rounds and expressed his frustration at hitting excellently but not capitalising on the opportunities he comes across so often.
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