Marcus Fraser (Aus), First round 65 (-7)
It’s been a good day. Played steady all day and putted really well. The new greens here, well they’ve done a great job. Unfortunately they lost them last year. Unbelievable to be able to turn them around in 12 months. They’ve done a great job. The greens last year, by no fault of their own, they were diseased and they lost them. Now they have rebuilt them and they are fantastic. The course played a lot different last year. It’s quite firm out there on the greens whereas last year the ball was plugging in to the greens because of the surface. It was definitely a different golf course. It was enjoyable out there, nice to see the ball bounce and even on the fairways.

If we don’t get any rain, you know maybe, but we’re in Malaysia, in the practice round the course was firm and bouncy and they have small undulating greens. With that combination you would think the scoring wouldn’t be as good. But its a great surface to putt on, not too much grain in the greens.

I’m definitely a part time golfer these days. It’s nice to go out on the golf course and it doesn’t mean as much as it used to. I think when you’ve got that mind-set it probably helps. I was more surprised than anyone going out there and shooting seven under.

I’ve been playing well having a hit at home but I haven’t played a whole lot of competitive golf. It was nice to go out and play well in a great tournament.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) First round 66 (-6)
I didn’t expect to play this well. Last year I didn’t play all that well here but this year it seems like the course is better, I’ve enjoyed it more and I have a bit more confidence on the greens.

The greens are so much better than last year. I think that it plays into a different game plan. You can hit it into the middle of the green and try to make putts rather than going for every green. I enjoyed it a lot more.

I don’t know what to expect. Last year it was like this as well, scoring was low and then it died off. I don’t know about this year because the greens are better. It depends on who can handle the heat more.

Angelo Que (Phi) First round 66 (-6)
I thought I was dreaming when I got to nine-under after 11 holes. But these things happen especially when you play well. You try not to think too much and get ahead of yourself by ignoring it and keep playing. But it sorts of plays on your mind too. I got unlucky on 15 where I hit the fairway but didn’t have a shot at the green as I was blocked by a tree. I got an unlucky lie and didn’t get it up and down. It was the same story on the next hole. These things happen but lucky I still managed to make 10 birdies today. So six-under is always a good score. I started off with a birdie and ended off with a birdie. So that’s nice.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) First round 68 (-4)
I made a lot of unforced errors today I started the round with a bogey and made a couple of other bogeys where I could have easily made pars. But I finished the round with a nice birdie on the last hole and that was pleasing. Apart from those errors, it was a decent round of golf. Asia’s home for me and I get inspired each time I come back and play in this part of the world. I’ve been quite consistent this season and giving myself opportunities over the weekend. The goal is to keep on working hard and improving every year.

Poom Saksansin (Tha) First round 68 (-4)
It was a good round. I played with Marcus Fraser and Thomas Pieters who are really good players. They make it look so easy. I’ve never made the cut in all my previous attempts here so it’ll be an achievement if I can progress to the weekend rounds.