SSP Chawrasia makes a steady start in Austria

Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia got off to his best start since the resumption of the 2021 European Tour, carding an even-par 72 in the first round of the Austrian Open.

Chawrasia is tied for 31st place after making two birdies and two bogeys in the first round at the challenging Diamond Country Club on Thursday.

The Rio 2016 Olympian Chawrasia birdied eighth and twelfth holes and bogeyed the eleventh and eighteenth.

Spain's Alejandro Canizares shot a five-under-par 67 to lead the Austrian Open at Atzenbrugg after the first round.

Shubhankar Sharma, a regular Indian on the European Tour, once again struggled to find the rhythm and carded a three-over 75 that included a closing triple bogey, which puts him in danger of missing cut at the event.

The 2018 Asian Tour Order of Merit Champion, Sharma had two birdies, but five bogeys cost him the round and threw him eight shots behind the lead at the €1,000,000 event.

Ajeetesh Sandhu, who is making his comeback on the European Tour after a long absence, carded a disappointing five-over-par 77 in a star-studded event.

Sandhu finished the round sharing 107th place in the now-142-player field, ten shots behind leader Alejandro Canizares.