Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher was soaring to the top of the victory take-out queue thanks to a superb final hole eagle in a round of 67 on day one of the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi.

Gallacher, and with recently turned 18-year old son Jack acting as caddy, holed a 12-footer from just off the green to snare the early clubhouse lead on the DLF Golf and Country Club in the Indian capital.

The effort is the Gallacher’s lowest score all season in 15 rounds over seven disappointing events for the now 44-year old where he’s made the cut in just one tournament and that being a lowly result in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

A father-and-son effort with Stephen Gallacher and son, Jack on the bag producing a five-under par 67 on day one of the Hero Indian Open. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)

As well, the now World No. 355 has broken 70 just once before this season and that being a 68 to commence the Dubai tournament.

Gallacher arrived in India buoyed by a seventh place effort a year ago and the proud Scot took full advantage early on day one to be five-under par through 11 holes thanks to three birdies in succession from his ninth holes.

However he gave back two shots with a double-bogey on the par-4 16th before the soaring eagle at the last.

“It was a perfect morning. Cool to start with and then it heated up later on in the round, and not too much wind, so it was perfect today,” he said.

“I think you have to get it in play off the tee, there is just so much trouble. I think if you get the tee shot in place you can hit a couple of nice iron shots and take advantage of the par fours that are quite short, drive a couple, and knock it onto the par fives.

“It is quite a strategic course. I don’t think you need to be the longest player on the Tour to play it, I think you’ve just got to plot your way around it.

“I have started poorly to be honest, I’ve had a sort of big miss in the bag that has been costing me triples and doubles, so hopefully, I knew I was close last week, I played lovely but just didn’t get anything out of it, but coming back to a place where I’ve played well hopefully I can draw on some inspiration from last year.”

Three players – Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, Swede Robert Karlsson and South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout were also in the clubhouse with four under par 68s.