Hero Indian Open - Preview, Picks & Analysis

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

IN YEARS gone by, when the European Tour visited the likes of Thailand, China and India, local golfers were allowed to take part in order to make up the numbers. And they usually missed the cut by miles. How times have changed.

Last week, in Thailand, it was the home players who had the fans on their feet. And it will be a similar story at the Hero Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club, where home golfers will be expected to challenge for the title. This will be the 51st time the tournament has taken place and it is co-sanctioned for the first time by the Asian and European Tours.

It may surprise you to learn that since 1998, five Indian golfers have won their home title at the Delhi Golf Club, which will host the event for the 27th time. One of those men, Jyoti Randhawa, has won it three times, including back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007.

Jeev Milka Singh, who is probably the country's most famous golf export to date, has yet to taste success here and victory would be especially sweet for him. “I have come so close to winning the Indian Open so many times. I have won the national Open of many other countries, such as Scotland, Singapore, China and Austria, but it is the Indian Open I want most,” he said.

Singh hasn't played well this season. And even if he was on top of his game, he may still struggle to see off the new generation of Indian stars, chief among whom is Anirban Lahiri, whose victory at the Malaysian Open took him to 37th in the world rankings and secured his place in the field for The Masters. It is also worth noting that Lahiri has won three times at Delhi, so he will feel right at home.

In truth, the field is not especially strong but don't run away with the idea that the quality of the golf played will suffer as a result.

Shiv Chawrasia and Arjun Atwal are also past winners on the Delhi course. Since 1998 an Indian golfer has failed to finish in the top five on just one occasion. Another home player with a good reason for wanting to win is Shiv Kapur, who has twice finished in the top four.

“The Hero Indian Open is the biggest event for any Indian, and for me to win it would bring me three times as much joy – it is the national Open, it is my sponsor’s event and it is also being hosted at my home club Dehli GC, where I grew up playing. So it means a lot to me,” said Kapur.

Of course, the tournament provides a great opportunity for some of the European Tour's lesser lights to make their mark. Victory will secure them a two-year exemption and remove all concerns about retaining their card. Last year, it was Siddikur Rahman, of Bangladesh, who surprised everybody by walking off with the trophy.

The biggest name in the field is Miguel Angel Jimenez, who continues to defy his 51 years and will begin as one of the favourites to win. It will also be interesting to watch the progress of Brett Rumford, a five-time winner of the European Tour who has been enduring a thoroughly miserable time of it recently.

Hero Indian Open betting picks

To win: Shiv Chawrasia 28/1 A superb player, who will be inspired on home soil

Each way Miguel Angel Jimenez 8/1 He just goes on and on, getting better and better

Each way Scott Hend 12/1 Will be determined to make up for missing out last week

Hero Indian Open fantasy picks

Scott Hend 12/1 If the big-hitting Aussie is on top of his game, he will be hard to beat

Miguel Angel Jimenez 8/1 Will enjoy the fact that this is a golf course that requires a tactical approach

Shiv Chawrasia 28/1 Determined to give home fans something to cheer about

Craig Lee 40/1 The Scot tends to perform well in this part of the world

Lee Slattery 25/1 Will be looking to take advantage of a weaker than normal field

Gaganjeet Bhullar  25/1 Vastly underrated Indian golfer

Jyoti Randhawa 25/1 Showed signs of life in Thailand

Shiv Kapur 28/1 Has been in the doldrums but is too good to let that continue

Jeev Milkha Singh 40/1 There would be no more popular winner

Anirban Lahiri 8/1 The Malaysian Open champion will be lifted by home support

Image Credit - Hero Indian Open Facebook Page