New Delhi, January 31, 2017: Gary Player designed DLF Golf & Country Club will host the Hero Indian Open 2017 from 9 March to 12 March. The event,  co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours for the third consecutive year, will witness defending champion SSP Chawrasia, 2015 champion Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal, Rashid Khan, Shiv Kapur, Rahil Gangjee and Mukesh Kumar vie for home glory.

Indian Golfers S Chikarangappa and Shiv Kapur with the Hero Indian Open trophy

S Chikkarangappa, Shubhankar Sharma and Khalin Joshi, who have all come close to winning their maiden international pro title, will also make a strong bid to find their breakthrough on home soil.

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The prize purse has been enhanced to US$ 1.75 million, which is almost six times more than US$ 300,000, which it was when Hero took on the Title Sponsorship of the Indian Open in 2005.

While the final list of players will be confirmed closer to the tournament, some leading players from the European and Asian Tours are also set to play in the Hero Indian Open this year.

Mr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Indian golf is at a very exciting phase, as it has begun making a mark on all the golf Tours across the world. The Hero Indian Open is on the European Tour platform for the third consecutive year and the field has also steadily become stronger. Being an integral part of this journey, Brand Hero is now a major supporter of golf on all the three Tours – Asian Tour, European Tour and the US PGA. 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.”

The 2017 Hero Indian Open will become the first men’s international event to be played at the Gary Player course at the DLF Golf & Country Club. The tournament has been played at the club only once before – back in 2009, when C Muniyappa won the title – but at the Arnold Palmer course.

Course designer Gary Player dubbed the “Black Knight” and International Ambassador of Golf,  was pleased with his efforts and complimented DLF for their unwavering commitment: “I have enjoyed my “second” career creating courses in new and interesting lands, and India really stands out as a fascinating place to visit. I am very proud of this course, which will truly stand beside any in the world. It is important that I thank DLF and the Singh family for their unwavering commitment to quality,”

“We’ve designed several sets of tees to accommodate all levels of golfers. I can assure you that this golf course will test the tour professional from the championship tees. But it is equally if not more important to give the member who lives here options for enjoyment. I believe we have accomplished that.

“The feedback I received was very complimentary. The golfers really enjoyed the course conditions and the challenging layout. I think the bunker style and geo-textile materials used distinguishes this golf course.” Player added.

The challenging layout will test the golfers to the hilt. Shiv Kapur felt that the conditions were more akin to playing overseas and there will be no home advantage, while DLF’s Shubhankar Sharma feels one needs to get lucky to pocket the title. “I’m really looking forward to playing on my home course. The layout is challenging and crowd can expect some scintillating golf. Hopefully we will have another Indian champion,” said Shubhankar

Mr. Cho Min Thant, Asian Tour Chief Operating Officer, said: “On behalf of the Asian Tour, we are delighted to welcome the Hero Indian Open once again to our 2017 Schedule. The historic event has featured prominently on schedule for many years and it has propelled the careers of many of our players including our two latest champions. Anirban Lahiri, the winner in 2015 and SSP Chawrasia, the defending champion, have done Asian Tour proud and we see them going from strength to strength.”

Wg Cdr Satish Aparajit, President of the Indian Golf Union, said “The Hero Indian Open has been the pride of Indian Golf Union for over half a century. Its rich history is virtually the history of Indian golf and we have had very quality champions in the past. For us, it gives us great pleasure to see Indians win the Indian Open, as it shows that Indian golf is progressing in the right direction.”

Mr. Vaibhav Agarwal, Vice President, Nimbus Sport, said “The Hero Indian Open has been the most-eagerly awaited event in the Indian golf calendar. As one of the premier and oldest events in Asia, it boasts of a great legacy and tradition. And this year, we will have an Indian ace SSP Chawrasia returning to defend his title, while Anirban Lahiri, the champion in 2015, will be hoping to wrest that Trophy from his friend and colleague. We at Nimbus are proud to be associated with such a historic event that pits the best of India against the rest of the world.”

Mr Aakash Ohri, Senior Executive Director, DLF Home Developers Ltd said: “DLF is happy to be associated with the Hero Indian Open 2017 and host the event at the DLF Golf & Country Club’s Gary Player course. This is the first time the men’s tour will play an event on the new course and we look forward to welcoming the players to DLF. The course is gearing up to provide pristine conditions in the second week of March and we are sure that the players will enjoy the challenge on the course, and the new facilities that the club has to offer.”

Fellow Olympians Chawrasia and Lahiri have had a long-running battle at the Hero Indian Open, where they have either won or finished second in each of the last three editions. The duo, which represented India at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro last year, has been at the forefront of Indian golf in last two years.

In 2016, Chawrasia pipped fellow Indian Lahiri and Korean Wang Jeunghun to win the coveted trophy, a year after Lahiri had edged Chawrasia out in the play-off in 2015.

Interestingly, at the 50th anniversary of the tournament in 2013, both Lahiri and Chawrasia were pushed to Tied-second by Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh.

Tags: DLF Golf & Country Club, Gary Player, Golf, Hero Indian Open, Hero Indian Open 2017, S Chikkarangappa, Shiv Kapur