Rashid Khan today launched his full Asian Tour season with a sizzling career-best 11-under 61 in the opening round of the SAIL-SBI Open and the young Indian golfer said his target is to win a title in the region this year.
The 23-year-old Rashid, playing on his home course, went on a birdie spree as he picked up nine of them and one eagle in a flawless card, in which he didn't put a foot wrong.
"I shot the best round of my career. My last best score here was an eight-under in SAIL Open last year. Of course, I hit nine-under in Sri Lanka at the Standard Chartered Open a couple of weeks ago but it has been a great round.
"This is my opening event of the Asian Tour and I was seven-under at the back nine and I am very happy with my round," said Rashid, who claimed the number one position on the 2013 Rolex Rankings.
This was the second best score at the DGC, where Liang Wen-Chong of China had set the 18-hole Tour record with a stunning 12-under 60 in the opening round of the 2008 Indian Open. He had won the title with a total of 16-under 272.
"Everything went fine today for me. The tee shots, the short game, everything combined well for me. It has been a satisfying round," added the Delhi golfer, who turned pro in 2010 but missed out on an Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School Final Stage in 2011 and 2012.
Relying on sponsor's invitation, Rashid made five cuts in five attempts with his best effort of tied 29th at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in Malaysia.
"I will concentrate on the Asian Tour this year and my aim to win atleast a title in the tour this season," said the Indian, who finished 10th and fourth in the PGTI Ahmedabad Masters and Standard Charter Open respectively in the early domestic season.
