Asian Tour: refreshed Garcia chasing first win in 2 years, as Shin grabs early lead at International Series Oman
- Canadian Yonggu Shin shoots 6-under 66 to finish first round a stroke ahead of Sergio Garcia
- Spaniard rattles off five birdies in six holes on back nine to make most of calm early conditions
A refreshed Sergio Garcia shot a five-under-par 67 in the first round of the International Series Oman on Thursday, and only a bogey on the last stopped the Spaniard grabbing an early share of the lead at Al Mouj Golf Club.
There looked to be little danger of Garcia finishing at the top midway through his round, but a run of five birdies in six holes on the back nine changed all that.
Canadian Yonggu Shin made the most of the calm early morning conditions to finish with a bogey-free 66, a stroke clear of the field.
“I got lucky being out first as the conditions were pretty good on the front nine, and I managed to come away four under for those nine holes, but then the wind picked up in the afternoon and made it tricky, so really happy to come away without any dropped shots,” he said.
After finishing in a tie for 28th at the season-opening PIF Saudi International last week, Garcia entered the first International Series event of the year chasing his seventh win on the Asian Tour.
The 43-year-old claimed the Singapore Open title in 2018, but has not won anywhere in two years and had a long break over the winter as he recovered from knee surgery.
