More proof that golf is a ridiculous game: Espen Kofstad of Norway followed an opening 81 with a second-round, course-record 62 in the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi on the DP World Tour.
A Remarkable Turnaround
Kofstad made nine birdies and an eagle against one bogey in the second round. That’s versus one birdie, five bogeys, a double bogey on a par 5, and a triple bogey on another par 5 in the first round.
The astonishing 19-shot swing between the two rounds propelled him to a 1-under total and inside the projected cutline at DLF Golf and Country Club. Kofstad had already booked flights home after the opening 81, assuming there was no chance he would play the weekend on the Gary Player-designed course. His remarkable 62 broke Shubhankar Sharma’s previous record of 64 on the par-72 layout.
“I changed my flights last night to go home tomorrow, so I’m going to have to change them again!” exclaimed Kofstad after his outstanding performance.
The 62 also stands as the lowest round by two shots on the DP World Tour for Kofstad, who turned pro in 2010 before a series of injuries derailed his career.
Unbelievable Achievement
Reflecting on his incredible accomplishment, Kofstad shared, “Today was just unbelievable. Everything came off, and I’ve holed so many putts, I have no idea how many feet I’ve holed, but it’s been quite the day. I’ve been working a lot on the range lately, and I’m feeling like I’ve been coming back from injury, and everything’s been feeling horrible for the longest time.”
Kofstad continued, “The other day I felt like, ‘Okay, I’m starting to move a little better,’ and then yesterday, I just didn’t get used to what I was working on, and everything went wrong. Then this morning on the range, I was just hitting balls, and it felt really nice, and then all of a sudden, the birdies just started rolling in when I started playing.”
Tournament Updates
The second round of the Hero Indian Open was interrupted by storms and will be continued on Saturday morning. Keita Nakajima of Japan currently holds a one-shot lead at 14 under after completing consecutive rounds of 65. Romain Langasque follows closely in second place at 12 under after posting two rounds of 66. Matteo Manassero of Italy secures third place with scores of 65-68, totaling an impressive 11-under.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What records did Espen Kofstad break in the Hero Indian Open?
Espen Kofstad broke the course record at the DP World Tour event, shooting a remarkable 62 in the second round. He surpassed the previous record of 64 set by Shubhankar Sharma on the par-72 layout.
How did Espen Kofstad turn his performance around between the first and second rounds?
Kofstad significantly improved his performance by making nine birdies and an eagle in the second round compared to only one birdie, five bogeys, a double bogey, and a triple bogey in the first round.
What are the current standings in the Hero Indian Open?
After completing two rounds, Keita Nakajima of Japan leads the tournament with a score of 14 under. Romain Langasque is in second place at 12 under, and Matteo Manassero of Italy is in third place with a score of 11 under.
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