I was just glad I didn’t shoot 80: Golfer Akshay Bhatia

Golf is both a great leveller and a demanding teacher. It rewards well but punishes even the smallest errors. Yet, nothing is beyond repair — the key is patience and never giving up. The opening round of the 2026 Hero Indian Open at the challenging DLF Golf and Country Club was a reminder of that.I had a tough start on the back nine. A lost ball on the 10th — my first hole — set the tone. I then made a rare mistake, hitting a wrong ball that led to a triple, followed by another double on the 18th. By the end of nine holes, I was eightover. I reset for the second nine, aiming to recover with birdies. As I got more comfortable with the course, I picked up three birdies without further errors. There are good scores out there, but I still believe even par is achievable with a strong second round. Walking off, I was just glad I hadn’t shot 80.Beyond the course, my time in India has been special. While my focus remains on the tournament, the food, culture and experiences have made it memorable.(AKSHAY BHATIA IS A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER AND HERO MOTOCORP GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR)