This Thursday marks the start of one of the tournaments with the most unique identity on the DP World Tour. It is the Hero Indian Open, an event that never leaves anyone indifferent due to the playing conditions at the DLF Golf and Country Club, its venue. Additionally, this year it has an extra incentive. And what an incentive… A Big One.
The PGA of America established a new exemption this year for the PGA Championship, the second major of the season, which will be held at Quail Hollow from 15th to 18th May and is related, among other things, to this tournament. Specifically, the top three in the Asian Swing ranking qualify directly, meaning the golfers who accumulate the most points in the mini-tour consisting of the Porsche Singapore Classic, Hero Indian Open, Volvo China Open, and Hainan Classic.
Obviously, with only four tournaments, each of the winners of these events will have a significant advantage. For example, Richard Mansell, with his victory in Singapore, already has one foot in North Carolina, although he will still need to do a bit more to avoid a surprise. Therefore, a win in India could come with a silver lining. It is important to clarify that only the top three qualify and that the spot does not pass down. That is, if one of the top three is already qualified, the fourth does not go.
Currently, the top three are the same as in Singapore, logically. That is: Mansell, Nakajima, and Saddier. McKibbin is tied with Saddier, but he is not expected to play more tournaments in this Asian Swing, making him one less rival for one of those three spots.
Regarding the Spanish players, the best-ranked is Manu Elvira, who is in ninth place, followed by Alejandro del Rey (14th), Nacho Elvira (20th), Iván Cantero (47th), Alfredo García Heredia (54th), Ángel Ayora (62nd), Jorge Campillo (63rd), and Joel Moscatel (63rd). Among them, Del Rey, Cantero, and García Heredia are not in India. All the others will try to earn points for the PGA, as will Rafa Cabrera Bello, Pablo Larrazábal, or Eugenio López Chacarra, who has received an invitation for this tournament. Logically, Chacarra’s case is special. He is not a member of the DP World Tour, so initially, he will not play the next two events in China. Any chance of qualifying for the PGA depends on him winning this week at the DLF Golf and thus securing the DP World Tour card.
Currently, the Spanish players qualified for the PGA Championship are Jon Rahm, Sergio García, and David Puig. Having more will largely depend on what happens this week in India, as well as in the next two DP World Tour events in China.
