Niklas Norgaard leads India Championship as Rory McIlroy trails by four

Just under five hours of play was lost due to storms in the vicinity at Delhi Golf Club but that was no distraction to Norgaard, who carded a 66 to get to six under and lead the way from Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Belgian Thomas Detry and Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin.

Spaniard Chacarra is second in the Race to Dubai Rankings and one of four players who could go top this week as the season moves towards a dramatic conclusion.

Rival Rory McIlroy carded an opening 70, while Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed and another contender in Casey Jarvis were yet to complete their rounds, with 12 players unable to tee off in round one due to the delays.

Of those who did complete 18 holes, however, it was Norgaard who continued his recent run of fine form in the Indian capital.

"I'm very, very happy," he said. "Bit surprised as well. This should not suit me at all. It pretty much just neutralises my best weapon, which is my driver. But I just managed to make no big mistakes, put the irons in play, and putt pretty well.

"Had a tough year until (August) and it's just I think what happened at Belfry made me regain my confidence. I didn't think that I'd been playing that bad but I just needed something to spark it and that's what the Belfry did.

"I've been playing good since."

Chacarra made a fast start from the tenth with birdies on his opening hole, the 11th, 14th and 15th.

He bounced back from a bogey on the 16th with a gain on the next and added birdies on the second and eighth before dropping a shot on the ninth.

"Need to play here more often I guess," said Chacarra, who has a win and a runner-up finish in New Delhi at the Hero Indian Open.

"I just love the greens. I can see the breaks better than in other places. I know the lie and what it is. I've been having good greens, like reading and good putts made when I play here, and today was kind of the same.

"I'm feeling good, mentally fresh and excited for what's ahead."