Casey Jarvis made just one birdie son the front nine on Thursday, but he came home in a hurry as he signed for an opening six-under-par 66 in the DP World Tour’s DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi.

He made five birdies in the last seven holes, and he finished the first round just two strokes off the hot opening pace set by Shane Lowry. The Irishman carded eight-under-par 64, with a run of five birdies in a row on the back nine underpinning that score.

Lowry was one clear of Keita Nakajima of Japan, who, like Lowry, made eight birdies, but dropped a shot on the sixth.

Jarvis was alone in third, with Jorge Campillo of Spain in a share of fourth on five-under with Germany’s Jannik de Bruyn and local player Rahil Gangjee.

Zander Lombard opened with a four-under-par 68 with five birdies and a bogey and he was in a share of seventh place. That put him ahead of world number two Rory McIlroy, who opened with a 69 for a share of 17th. Thriston Lawrence was among the players on three-under with McIlroy.

Jayden Schaper was a shot back on 70 in a share of 28th, while Ricard Sterne’s one-under 71 put him in a share of 44th.

Thomas Aiken and Robin Williams were on level-par in a share of 64th.