He made four birdies and two bogeys on Monday, and that was enough to give him a share of eighth after the first round of the DP World Tour’s Hero India Open at DLF Golf & Country Club, New Delhi.
Viljoen has been given some starts on this latest leg of the circuit, and his two-under-par 70 is his best start in his third tournament away from home since the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open. He was five shots off the lead which was held by Germany’s Yannik Paul at seven-under. Paul had a one-stroke lead over India’s Honey Baisoya. Finland’s Miko Korhonen was in third on five-under, while Shubhankar Sharma and Angad Cheema of India shared fourth on four-under with Gudmundur Kristjansson of Iceland.
Thomas Aiken and Bryce Easton were in a share of 15th, one shot behind Viljoen, and Daniel van Tonder and Jayden Schaper were in a share of 24th on level-par 72. Shaun Norris was on three-over in a share of 60th together with Jake Redman, while Albert Venter was on five-over in a share of 83rd. Oliver Bekker opened with an 81.
Paul, who came second at last week’s Thailand Classic, continued his fine form as he cancelled out an opening bogey with eight birdies in his next 17 holes to sign for a 65. He finished his round with a flourish, closing with four successive birdies.
