Foster moves into second place

The Worksop-born 32-year-old, who has failed to make the cut in his last three European Tour events, found himself in a four-way tie for second after the morning session at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, near Delhi.

He was one shot behind clubhouse leaders Shamim Khan, of India, and Daniel Vancsik, of Argentina. Starting on the front nine, Foster birdied the third, fifth, sixth and eighth to move to four under after nine holes.

He bogeyed the 10th after a bad drive but picked up another birdie with a 10-foot putt at the 14th to join James Kamte, of South Africa, Greg Chalmers, of Australia, and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derkson on four under.

"It was good scoring for the first day," said Foster. "It's very warm out there and it's not that easy because the course is playing firm and tricky but it's a good score to start the week.

"I played really good golf on the front nine. I had birdie chances on seven of the nine holes and the four under could have been even a little better. I struggled on my way in on the back nine but still played OK."

Vancsik made an eagle at his final hole of the day, the ninth, to move to five under after a round that also included five birdies and two bogeys and he was joined on that mark by Khan, who made the fifth birdie of a bogey-free round on his final hole.

World number 11 Vijay Singh is within striking distance of the leaders after making three birdies on his back nine to finish his opening round on two under while Colin Montgomerie is at two over after an up-and-down round that featured two birdies and four bogeys.

Meanwhile, Ian Poulter has plenty of work to do on Friday to survive the cut after carding a four-over 76.