Steady Niemann takes control at International Series India golf

Bogey-free 68 puts Chilean at the front of LIV-backed Asian Tour event
GURUGRAM: "Play smart golf, stick to the plan, don't try to be extra aggressive." These are overnight leader Eugenio Chacarra's words of advice. It's all about execution and precision though, at DLF G&CC's Gary Player course. The Spaniard will have to follow his inner voice come the morning as he found himself stranded on the seventh hole because of another fog-delayed start, with a birdie and a double bogey to show.
Patience, also patience.As he learnt the day before.
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It's fascinating how the focus transfers from the players to this course once a tournament gets interesting. With the projected cut at 7-over, and only 12 players under par at the $2million International Series India presented by DLF, there will be few who will throw caution to the wind.
You can count Bryson DeChambeau as the leader of that group. The two-time US Open champ took a major risk on the par-5 8th on Day 1 and was rewarded with an eagle. The clip has since then gone viral, but let's hear it from the scientist's mouth.
"It was from a downhill lie, plus I had a tree right behind me in my backswing, so it was probably one of the most difficult shots I’ve hit in my entire life. Definitely top 10 or top 15. I knew I could hit it low, shape a draw around the corner, and get it up there (on the greens)," he explained how he used his mental compass. "I hit a perfect shot." Ten out of ten; in this case, an eagle-3.
There were more 'oohs and aahs' on the 8th again, this time on his return journey, having started from the 10th at evenpar. It was 'only' a birdie. A round of 1-under saw him sharing 11th place with Anirban Lahiri.
It was Bryson's playing partner, the steady Joaquin Niemann's turn to convert an eagle, chipping in from the rough. "It was a decent lie. I think it was a little tricky shot. I had to hit something pretty high and soft, and it came out just perfect. And I had a good catch from the hole. Got a little lucky," he admitted.
There were ibises and cormorants too, and they provided the scenic background for the Chilean to excel. With a rare bogey-free round of 4-under 68, and a total of 6-under, the LIV No. 2 who is known for his sage-like demeanour, walked away serenely with a two-shot advantage over the duo of Ollie Schniederjans and Kazuki Higa.
"Just one bogey on this course (during his opening round 70) is pretty good. But I feel there are more birdies out there. If my putter gets that streak, on a few holes, it could be a really low score," said the 26-year-old Florida resident, who built his reputation as the top-ranked amateur for 44 weeks in 2017-18.
Day 2 Leaderboard: -6 Joaquin Niemann (Chi) 70-68; -4 Ollie Schniederjans (USA) 71-69, Kazuki Higa (Jap) 69-71; -3: Jose Toledo (Gua) 75-66, Justin Quiban (70, -1 in 5 holes, Eugenio Chacarra (68, +1 in 5 holes); Selected scores: -1 Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 72-71, Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 71-72.