Star golfer and former champion Anirban Lahiri is ready to return on the Hero Indian Open, the nation’s Nationwide Open which may have an enhanced prize cash of $2.25 million this 12 months.
A part of the Asian Swing, the Indian Open may have 144 gamers, together with 33 Indians, competing for the highest prize from March 28 to 31 on the DLF Golf & Nation Membership in Gurugram.
The winner will obtain a good-looking $382,500 with the runner-up selecting up $247,500 and the third-place finisher pocketing $140,850.
“I’m actually wanting ahead to play on the Indian Open this 12 months. It has been 5 years since I had the chance to compete in my nationwide open. Profitable the title in 2015 stays considered one of my most cherished recollections,” mentioned Lahiri, a former Asian and European tour champion, through a video message throughout a press convention right here on Friday.
Lahiri, who had clinched the title in 2015, final performed within the 2019 editions earlier than the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which meant the occasion might solely return in 2023 after three years.
The 36-year-old, who now competes on the LIV Golf Tour, skipped the final version however he has taken approval from the European Tour to take part within the nation’s flagship golf event this 12 months.
The 57th version of the Indian Open would be the second of 5 occasions comprising the Asian Swing as a part of the new-look 2024 Race to Dubai.
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Aside from Lahiri, Shiv Kapur, three-time DP World Tour winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium and the brand new thrilling expertise Kazumi Kobori of New Zealand will probably be a part of the elite discipline, the entry of which remains to be open.
Manu Gandas, who’s at present ranked second within the PGTI Order of Advantage, and Aman Raj may also be a part of the Indian discipline.
“My finest outcome was final 12 months, I’ve performed thrice on this event. My final day was not that nice, so I wish to put up an improved present this 12 months,” mentioned Gandas, who had performed within the 2023 DP Tour.
Indian Golf Union (IGU) President Brijinder Singh mentioned they’ve taken efforts to make it a memorable expertise for the spectators this time.
“The Hero Indian Open has been the summit on the Indian golf calendar as Indian Golf Union strives to advertise and run one of the expansive novice schedules, which has allowed prime amateurs to develop into world-class skilled golfers,” he mentioned.
“We had extra time to organise this occasion this time. So we’re scaling up the services for the spectators. We are going to make the entire expertise extra pleasurable for spectators.” That is the tenth 12 months of the event’s affiliation with the DP World Tour (previously European Tour), one of many greatest international {golfing} excursions.