Former Hero Indian Open Champion Anirban Lahiri believes the new venue for this year’s event will level the playing field, following the dominance of Indian golfers in recent years.
The tournament will be played on the Gary Player Course at DLF Golf and Country Club for the first time this weekend, after moving across the city from it’s traditional home at Delhi Golf Club. The visually striking course features a dramatic landscape, large rock formations and undulating greens.
Lahiri lifted the trophy for the first time in 2015, as part of a series of fascinating battles with countryman and defending champion SSP Chawrasia. When Chawrasia won last year Lahiri was tied second, while Chawrasia was runner-up when Lahiri triumphed in a play-off to take the title the previous year. Both players also finished tied second when Siddikur Rahman claimed victory in 2013.
The two-time European Tour winner has finished no lower that tied 15th in his last six appearances in his national Open and another good showing this week would help towards his goals of playing in the Masters Tournament and the upcoming WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
Current Asian Tour Number One Scott Hend is one of the players, alongside this week’s highest ranked competitor Rafa Cabrera Bello, who made the long journey from Mexico to compete in Delhi.
Another two-time European Tour winner, the Australian is focused on overcoming the strong challenge posed by local golfers to put himself in contention for a place at The Masters.
Anirban Lahiri:
“I think it’s a blank sheet for everyone. Nobody really knows what to expect. At least as far as the whole field is concerned, no one is going out there saying “I’ve got to shoot a number” you are going to try to gauge it as you go along. The dynamics of it is very different from Delhi Golf Club, which has been the home of the Indian Open for many years. You do need length, to be able to control the ball in the wind. It’s going to need a lot more versatility. I keep saying it’s a ball-striker’s golf course.
“My primary target is obviously Augusta, but yes I would love to play the Match Play. I played Austin Country Club last year and I really liked the golf course. I like the layout. But more than anything else I like how I’m playing right now. You want to play all of these events when you are playing well.
“This week I expect SSP to be the competitor that he is. Obviously the Indian Open brings out the best in him. He is really gritty, he’s like a bulldog. He gets in there and he doesn’t let go. And that’s a really good quality to have especially on this golf course. When the going gets tough you need to just keep it in play out there. This not a golf course where just chipping or putting or any one part of your game is going to get you through. You need to have all of your departments in good shape.”
Scott Hend:
“First things first, if I can get into the Match Play, then I might get a chance to get into the Masters. Last week, I sort of ruined it for myself as I didn’t handle the course very well. There were a lot of world ranking points up for grabs there and I managed to get zero. If I can have a decent finish here and get into the match play, then possibly I can force my way into the Masters.
“I’m always learning every day. I just appreciate being able to play golf and all the places I can play golf. It’s a privilege which I don’t take lightly. It’s something that I enjoy doing. If I can’t play somewhere, I’ll play somewhere else.
“I think it’s going to be tough for the local guys too as I’m not sure how many times they’ve played this golf course. Like the Delhi Golf Club and Jay Pee Greens, they’ve played those courses a lot but this is different. They’ve not played here 100 times or 150 times, they’re learning like we are. Obviously, Anirban is a class player and SSP, who plays in Europe, can play great golf.”
