Siddikur upstages Westwood

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April 21, 2011

Lee Westwood has been upstaged at the Indonesian Masters by a Bangladesh golfer with only one name.

Lee Westwood has been upstaged in the first round of the inaugural Indonesian Masters by a a Bangladesh golfer with only one name.

But it’s no real surprise.

In recent months, Siddikur, the Bangladeshi with the lone name, has fast been establishing a reputation for himself as being one of Asia’s fastest rising young stars.

On Thursday, while Englishman Westwood, the World No 2,was opening with a 68 and a share of eighth place, Siddikur was chipping in twice as he stormed into the lead at he Royale Jakarta Golf Club with a six under 66.

That has put him on shot clear of Thailand’s three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee, his fellow countryman Prayad Marksaeng, Singaporean Lam Chih Bing, Filipino Antonio Lascuna and Koreans Hyun-bin Park and In-choon Hwang, who all fired first round 67s

Westwood’s 68 and share of eighth place has him tied with local hope Rory Hie, Malaysia’s Ben Leong, Darren Beck of Australia and Mo Joong-kyung of Korea and keeps him in contention for the birthday victory on Sunday that could put him back on top of the World Ranking list.

The Englishman, however, was not making much of his rankings situation.

He said: “I’ll let things take its course and see what happens at the end of the week. Like I said before, I’m here to win a golf tournament.”

Westwood once more struggled with his putting, but he did manage crucial catch-up birdies on both closing holes to keep himself high up in the chasing pack

“I played solidly but I was a bit frustrated out there. It has been the story for me so far (this year), hitting it great from tee to green and giving myself a lot of chances but not taking too many of them,” Westwood added.

Siddikur, meanwhile, continued his rich vein of form after finishing tied for eighth at last week’s Maybank Malaysian Open and second at the SAIL Open in India last month.

The Bangladeshi, the 2010 Brunei Open winner, who on Thursday started from the 10th tee, said he was lucky to take the lead after holing out from 15 and 30 feet respectively on holes 10 and two.

“I was hitting and putting very well and it has been like this for a few weeks now. I’m getting more confidence every week and that’s why I’ve been playing so well,” said

He admitted feeling nervous about playing in the same group as Westwood.

“I saw the draw yesterday and was feeling a bit excited playing with one of the best players in the world and I have to admit I felt a bit shaky this morning.”

Thongchai who also played with Westwood turned in an opening-nine 30 highlighted by an eagle before dropping a costly double bogey after the turn.

“I was distracted by a camera and lost concentration from there on. I missed a lot of good putts on the back nine, but made birdie on the last to put myself near the leader,” he said.

Leading First Round Scores:
66 – Siddikur (Ban).
67 – Park Hyun-Bin (Kor), Lam Chih Bing (Sin), Antonio Lascuna (Phi), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Hwang Inn-Choon (Kor), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha).
68 – Rory Hie (Ina), Thitiphun Chuayprakong (Tha), Ben Leong (Mas), Lee Westwood (Eng), Darren Beck (Aus), Mo Joong-Kyung (Kor), Shaaban Hussin (Mas).
69 – Simon Griffiths (Eng), Iain Steel (Mas), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha).
70 – Piya Swangarunporn (Tha), Lee Sung (Kor), Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha), Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha), Namchok Tantipokhakul (Tha), Hsu Mong-Nan (Tpe), Varut Chomchalam (Tha), Tim Stewart (Aus), Marcus Both (Aus), Prom Meesawat (Tha), Jason Knutzon (Usa), Poosit Supupramai (Tha), Sattaya Supupramai (Tha).

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