Shankar eyes good show in Indian Open to earn Asian Tour card

New Delhi: He blasted three birdies on the final holes to turn in a sizzling five-under 67 on the opening round of Indian Open and boosted by the performance, Shankar Das said he was looking forward to a good show in the next three days here to earn a card at the Asian Tour.

"The highlight of the day for me was the last three birdies at the last three holes and it has given me a lot of confidence. "I would look to carry the same momentum growing tomorrow and hope to make a good finish after day four here," Shankar told reporters at the Delhi Golf Course, which is hosting the 50th edition of the Hero Indian Open. "I had won the PGTI Players Championship presented by Panchkula Golf Club in September and I have done well at DGC. I had finished fifth and sixth in this golf course during the Panasonic Open and Sail-SbI Open last year. If I can continue the good work then I can get the Asian tour card," said Shankar, who is currently 116th on the Asian Tour Order Of Merit. The 30-year-old, who turned professional in 2002, sank birdies on the first, second and eighth hole in the front nine to be three-under at the turn. On his back nine, he stumbled on the 10th hole as he dropped a bogey, but recovered in style, signing off with three birdies on a row at the 16th, 17th and 18th hole. "I was a little edgy at the start of the round as I couldn`t focus due to foggy conditions. However, I soon got into my rhythm with birdies on the first, second and eighth. I landed my chips within a few inches of the pin on the first and eighth," he said. "It was great to finish with birdies in the last three holes where I hit it within four to eight feet," he added.