Hidalgo, Meronk, Luiten and Detry share the lead

Angel Hidalgo, Adrian Meronk and Joost Luiten made light work of a heavy load to move to the top of the leaderboard at the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club here on Friday.

With five hours of play lost to heavy rain on Thursday, the trio and several other golfers had to play extra holes to catch up. Dutchman Luiten tackled 34 holes to card an eight-under 136, while Meronk and Hidalgo each played 32 holes.

They were joined at the top by Belgium’s Thomas Detry, who returned a three-under score over the six holes he played on Friday. Six-time Major champion Rory McIlroy, who played just four holes, was tied-17th at four-under overall. He provided a highlight during his brief spell on the course, sinking an eight-foot putt for an eagle on the first hole.

Luiten, a six-time winner on the European Tour, squandered the chance to take the sole lead. On his penultimate hole, he found the rough before landing in a greenside bunker and then returning to the rough. The 40-year-old subsequently missed a three-foot putt to card a double bogey.

“Everything went bad (on that hole). The long day and tiredness just got to me a bit at the end,” Luiten said.

Spaniard Hidalgo has already improved on his showing here last year, when he missed the cut. His putting and approach play were particularly effective, helping him climb seven places on the leaderboard.

Meronk was the most consistent player on show, and came close to completing two bogey-free rounds. His only blemish came on the final hole, where he missed an eight-foot putt. The Polish golfer said that “playing smart off the tee, and placing the ball in good spots” was the key to negotiating the challenging course.

Om Prakash Chouhan, who parred both holes he played, remained the leading Indian at four-under overall, tied-17th. Anirban Lahiri (70, 73) was the next-best Indian, lying tied-46th.

The 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, the Race to Dubai leader, carded a three-under 69 to move up 39 places to tied-59th.

The scores (top five): 136: Angel Hidalgo (68, 68), Adrian Meronk (67, 69), Joost Luiten (68, 68), Thomas Detry (67, three-under after six holes); 137: Todd Clements (69, 68), Eddie Pepperell (71, 66), Eugenio Chacarra (67, two-under after five holes).