New Delhi: Defending champion S.S.P. Chawrasia and Anirban Lahiri headline a field for the 2017 Hero Indian Open that promises to have the largest line-up of top Indian golfers, including Jeev Milkha Singh, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal, Rashid Khan, Shiv Kapur and Rahil Gangjee, to count a few.
Attention though will be on Chawrasia, the defending champion, and Lahiri, who have made the Indian Open almost a personal battle for the last three years. They have beaten the other once each at the event that will once again be trisanctioned by the Indian, Asian and European tours and will this year carry an enhanced purse of $1.75 million.
Having finished runner-up on four occasions — in 1999, 2006, 2013 and 2015 — Chawrasia finally edged out Lahiri and Korea’s Jeunghun Wang for the title last year, after Lahiri had shaded him in a play-off in 2015. In 2013, the 50th anniversary of the tournament, both Lahiri and Chawrasia shared second place behind Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman.
The Open, to be played at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon, returns to the venue after a gap of eight years, and will be the first men’s full-field professional tournament on the course partly redesigned by Gary Player two years ago.
The Open will also feature upcoming talent in the form of S. Chikkarangappa, home boy Shubhankar Sharma and Khalin Joshi, who have all come close to winning a maiden international title, and are expected to make a strong bid for their breakthrough on home soil.
While the final list of players will be confirmed closer to the tournament, leading players from the European and Asian Tours are also set to appear this year.
Speaking at the launch of the tournament, Shiv Kapur said it was matter of honour to play at home.
“I would call the Delhi Golf Club the golf equivalent of Eden Gardens and DLF is like Lord’s or MCG. It is going to be harder to play at DLF as the course is sloppier and bouncier. I am looking forward to the challenge.”
Added Hero MotoCorp managing director chief executive Pawan Munjal, “The Hero Indian Open is on the European Tour platform for the third consecutive year and the field has also steadily become stronger. With the strongest-ever line up of Indian players, I am sure the fans have a lot to look forward to at the Hero Indian Open 2017.”
