New Delhi [India], March 25 (ANI): Shankar Das has not won for more than four years, actually 52 months. But he has also not been in a better frame of mind than now in these last four-odd years both physically and mentally.

New Delhi Mar 24 PTI Indian golfer Shankar Das turned back the clock with a sizzling five-under 67 to share the lead with Australian Travis Smyth after the opening round of the USD 500000 DGC Open here on ThursdayDas has not won for more than four years Smyth like Das is also yet to win on the Asian Tour but the duo ruled the roost on a tight course at the Delhi Golf Club With the wind picking up as the day wore on low scores were at a premium but Veer Ahlawat was a rare exception from amongst the afternoon starters as he ended the day in shared third place alongside Thailands Nitithorn Thippong on 4-under 68 As many as five Indians were in the top 8 -- Das Ahlawat 68 Ajeetesh Sandhu 67 PGTI Q-School winner Varun Parikh 70 and Karandeep Kochhar 69 -- after day one at the Gary Player redesigned Lodhi Course of the DGC which is hosting the fourth event of the Asian Tours 2022 season Das who has seven wins on the Indian PGTI refused to get ahead of himself Three more rounds to go and anything can happen at DGC but I will do my best and I am feeling great A back injury had played havoc with him in 2019 while the pandemic left him without events to play at home or outside but the 39-year-old Das says he has never been in a better spaceI had a tough time in 2018 2019 and 2020 I was not playing well had back problems and had to rest and then the virus pandemic put a stop to golf But now I have practised a lot and I have a sponsorHe has two teenaged school-going kids who wish to play golf but Das says They should also do well in school Das had a string of Top-10s at the course I liked the old layout but this one is even more challenging and I like it he said of the course which has been redesigned by nine-time Major winner Gary Player Asked why he didnt use a driver Das said I dont want to hit a driver with rough on both sides and a narrow fairway You make a mistake and you can have double-bogeyThis is a very good course Earlier there were flat greens but now there are more high greens Now not only do you have to hit the tee shot well but you have to hit the second shot also really well only then you get a chance for a birdie He had six birdies against one bogey and most birdies were from close PTI ATK BS BS