Indian Open (golf) explained

Hero Indian Open
Location:	New Delhi, India
Establishment:	1964
Course:	DLF Golf and Country Club
Par:	72
Yardage:	7416yd
Tour:	European Tour Asian Tour Asia Golf Circuit Professional Golf Tour of India
Format:	Stroke play
Month Played:	March
Aggregate:	268 David Gleeson (2011)
To-Par:	−20 as above
Current Champion:	Keita Nakajima
Map:	India#India Haryana
Map Label:	DLF G&CC
Map Relief:	Yes
Map Size:	240

The Indian Open, titled for sponsorship reasons as the Hero Indian Open since 2011, is the national open golf championship of India, organised by the Indian Golf Union. Founded in 1964, it was added to the Asia Golf Circuit schedule in 1970. In 1998 it became an event on the rival Omega Tour (known as the Asian Tour since 2004). Since 2015, it has also been co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

From 1964 until 2000, the tournament was held exclusively at either Delhi Golf Club or Royal Calcutta Golf Club. Since then it has been held at Classic Golf Resort in 2000 and 2001, Karnataka Golf Association in 2012, and DLF Golf and Country Club in 2009 and since 2017; all other editions have been held at Delhi Golf Club.

History

The inaugural event was held in February 1964. Peter Thomson beat Ralph Moffitt by four strokes.^[1] Thomson was the inspiration behind the event. He used to stop off in India while travelling worldwide to play and soon realised the potential for golf and that the best way to promote it would be an international tournament. It was this insight that persuaded the Indian Golf Union to establish the Indian Open. Thompson continued to play in the event and won again in 1966 and 1976. His three wins was equalled by Jyoti Randhawa in 2007.

The second event in 1965 was won by Indian amateur Prem Gopal (Billoo) Sethi, who beat Guy Wolstenholme by seven strokes.^[2] Sethi still remains the only amateur winner. It was not until 1991, when Ali Sher became champion, that India had another winner.

In 1970 the Indian Open became part of the Asia Golf Circuit;^[3] it had been an "associate event" on the circuit in 1967 and 1968.^{[4] [5]} As a result of joining the tour, the field increased in strength with notable winners including three-time major champion Payne Stewart. There have been a number of sponsors over the years, with Hero Honda Motors Ltd taking over sponsorship in 2005. The prize fund for 2017 was US$1.75 million.

No events took place in 2020, 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Venues

The following venues have been used since the founding of the Indian Open in 1964.

Venue	Location	First	Last	Times
		1964	2016	30
		1965	1999	19
		2000	2001	2
		2009	2019	4
		2012	2012	1

Winners

Year	Tour(s)	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Venue	Ref.
Hero Indian Open
2024			271	−17	4 strokes			^[6]
2023			274	−14	1 stroke			^[7]
2022		Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic						^[8]
2021	ASA, EUR							^[9]
2020	ASA, EUR							^[10]
2019	ASA, EUR	Stephen Gallacher	279	−9	1 stroke	Masahiro Kawamura	DLF
2018	ASA, EUR	Matt Wallace	277	−11	Playoff	Andrew Johnston	DLF
2017	ASA, EUR	Shiv Chawrasia (2)	278	−10	7 strokes	Gavin Green	DLF
2016	ASA, EUR	Shiv Chawrasia	273	−15	2 strokes	Anirban Lahiri Wang Jeung-hun	Delhi
2015	ASA, EUR	Anirban Lahiri	277	−7	Playoff		Delhi
2014: No tournament due to scheduling changes (November to February)								^[11]
2013	ASA		274	−14	1 stroke		Delhi	^[12]
2012	ASA	Thaworn Wiratchant (2)	270	−14	Playoff	Richie Ramsay	Karnataka	^[13]
2011	ASA	David Gleeson	268	−20	3 strokes	Chiragh Kumar	Delhi	^[14]
Hero Honda Indian Open
2010	ASA	Rikard Karlberg	277	−11	2 strokes	Baek Seuk-hyun	Delhi	^[15]
2009	ASA	Chinnaswamy Muniyappa	276	−12	Playoff	Lee Sung	DLF
2008	ASA	Liang Wenchong	272	−16	1 stroke	Darren Beck	Delhi
2007	ASA	Jyoti Randhawa (3)	275	−13	3 strokes	Chang Tse-peng	Delhi
2006	ASA	Jyoti Randhawa (2)	270	−18	Playoff	Shiv Chawrasia Vijay Kumar	Delhi
2005	ASA		272	−16	2 strokes	Gaurav Ghei	Delhi
Royal Challenge Indian Open
2004	ASA		270	−18	5 strokes	Pablo del Olmo	Delhi
2003	ASA		270	−18	5 strokes	Rick Gibson	Delhi
2002	ASA		275	−13	2 strokes	Rick Gibson	Delhi	^[16]
Wills Indian Open
2001	ASA		271	−17	1 stroke	Ross Bain	Classic
2000	ASA		273	−15	Playoff	Sammy Daniels	Classic
1999	ASA		276	−12	4 strokes	Shiv Chawrasia Kang Wook-soon Prayad Marksaeng	Royal Calcutta
Classic Indian Open
1998	ASA		274	−14	5 strokes	Dean Wilson	Royal Calcutta
1997	AGC		272	−16	6 strokes	Gary Rusnak	Royal Calcutta	^[17]
1996	AGC		277	−11	3 strokes	Basad Ali Daniel Chopra Jyoti Randhawa	Royal Calcutta	^[18]
1995	AGC		280	−8	4 strokes	Daniel Chopra Bob May	Delhi	^[19]
1994	AGC		285	−3	1 stroke	Brandt Jobe	Royal Calcutta	^[20]
Wills Indian Open
1993	AGC	Ali Sher (2)	288	E	1 stroke	Feroz Ali Mollah	Delhi	^[21]
1992	AGC		284	−4	2 strokes	Aaron Meeks	Royal Calcutta	^[22]
1991	AGC		283	−5	1 stroke	Todd Hamilton Wang Ter-chang	Delhi	^[23]
1990	AGC		288	−4	6 strokes	Carlos Espinosa	Royal Calcutta	^[24]
1989	AGC		279	−9	1 stroke	Carlos Espinosa	Delhi	^[25]
Charminar Challenge Indian Open
1988	AGC		281	−11	5 strokes	Kirk Triplett	Royal Calcutta	^[26]
1987	AGC		280	−8	3 strokes	Mike Cunning Jim Hallet	Delhi	^[27]
1986	AGC		279	−13	2 strokes	Lu Chien-soon	Royal Calcutta	^[28]
Indian Open
1985	AGC	Tony Grimes	279	−9	4 strokes	Rodger Davis	Delhi	^[29]
1984	AGC		279	−13	3 strokes	Richard Cromwell Lai Chung-jen	Royal Calcutta	^[30]
1983	AGC		285	−3	Playoff	Hsieh Yu-shu Bob Tway	Delhi	^[31]
1982	AGC		277	−15	3 strokes	Ikuo Shirahama	Royal Calcutta	^[32]
1981	AGC		284	−4	4 strokes	Ho Ming-chung Hsu Sheng-san	Delhi	^[33]
1980	AGC		286	−6	4 strokes	Mya Aye Liao Kuo-chih	Royal Calcutta	^[34]
1979	AGC		284	−4	1 stroke	Hsu Chi-san	Delhi	^[35]
1978	AGC		284	−8	4 strokes	Stewart Ginn Brian Jones Kuo Chie-Hsiung	Royal Calcutta	^[36]
1977	AGC	Brian Jones (2)	284	−4	1 stroke	Mya Aye Yoshikazu Hayashi Peter Thomson	Delhi	^[37]
1976	AGC	Peter Thomson (3)	288	−4	1 stroke	Brian Jones	Royal Calcutta	^[38] ^[39]
1975	AGC		282	−10	Playoff	Kuo Chie-Hsiung	Delhi	^[40]
1974	AGC		287	−5	2 strokes	Mya Aye Brian Jones Don Klenk	Royal Calcutta	^[41]
1973	AGC	Graham Marsh (2)	280	−12	3 strokes	Stewart Ginn	Delhi	^[42]
1972	AGC		282	−10	2 strokes	Ben Arda Peter Thomson	Delhi	^[43]
1971	AGC		275	−17	1 stroke	David Graham	Delhi	^[44]
1970	AGC		279	−13	8 strokes	Hsieh Min-Nan Koichi Ono	Royal Calcutta	^[45]
1969	AGC		291	−1	7 strokes	Shadi Lal Raj Kumar Pitamber (a)	Royal Calcutta	^[46]
1968	AGC	Kenji Hosoishi (2)	285	−7	2 strokes	Stan Peach	Delhi	^[47]
1967	FEC		287	−5	Playoff	Malcolm Gregson	Royal Calcutta	^[48]
1966		Peter Thomson (2)	284		6 strokes	P. G. Sethi (a) Guy Wolstenholme	Delhi	^[49]
1965		P. G. Sethi (a)	282		7 strokes	Guy Wolstenholme	Royal Calcutta
1964		Peter Thomson	292		4 strokes	Ralph Moffitt	Delhi

Source:^[50]

External links

• Coverage on the European Tour's official site

28.455°N 77.106°W

Notes and References

1. News: Title for Thomson . . 17 February 1964 . 8 . 28 January 2020 . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210052301/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=voNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5143%2C6754176 . live .
2. News: Sethi Indian Champion . . 15 February 1965 . 4 . 28 January 2020 . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210052329/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7GJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mqMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1368%2C2433905 . live .
3. News: Asian circuit offers half-million dollars . The Straits Times . Singapore . 13 January 1970 . 21 . National Library Board . 19 March 2020 . 20 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200720034240/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19700113-1.2.124 . live .
4. News: Seven events in F-E circuit . The Straits Times . Singapore . 10 April 1967 . 17 . Reuter . National Library Board . 12 March 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709170606/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19661112-1.1.18 . live .
5. News: Club members pay for Fisher's trip . The Straits Times . Singapore . 29 December 1967 . 18 . Francis . Boey . National Library Board . 7 July 2020 . 31 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200131165308/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19671229-1.2.115.1 . live .
6. Web site: Nakajima wins first DP World Tour title then says what fans now come to expect . GolfMagic . Andy . Roberts . 31 March 2024 . 31 March 2024.
7. News: Indian Open: Marcel Siem ends wait for fifth DP World Tour title . BBC Sport . 26 February 2023 . 31 March 2024.
8. Web site: Updates to 2022 schedule . European Tour . 10 February 2022 . 10 February 2022 . 10 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220210174111/https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/news/articles/detail/updates-to-2022-schedule/ . live .
9. Web site: Indian Open golf cancelled due to COVID, once again . Olympics . 3 July 2021 . 18 July 2021 . 18 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210718195518/https://olympics.com/en/news/indian-open-golf-2021-cancelled-covid-19-pandemic . live .
10. Web site: Hero Indian Open 2020 cancelled . Asian Tour . 3 July 2020 . 5 July 2020 . 5 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200705130736/https://asiantour.com/hero-indian-open-2020-cancelled/ . live .
11. Web site: Hero Indian Open to return to Delhi Golf Club . PGA European Tour . 11 January 2016 . 6 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709101338/https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/news/articles/detail/hero-indian-open-to-return-to-delhi-golf-club/ . live .
12. Web site: Golf: Siddikur Rahman wins Indian Open, second Asian Tour title . Live Mint . Amlan . Chakraborty . 10 November 2013 . 7 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709160601/https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/ZT6Z40npIxOcO13dlOMz8L/Golf-Siddikur-Rahman-wins-Indian-Open-second-Asian-Tour-t.html . live .
13. Web site: Thaworn wins Indian Open in final-round drama . Bangkok Post . AFP . 22 October 2012 . 7 July 2020 . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210052328/https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/317895/thaworn-wins-indian-open-in-final-round-drama . live .
14. Web site: Gleeson claims Indian Open title . Irish Examiner . 16 October 2011 . 7 July 2020 . 7 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200707185157/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gleeson-claims-indian-open-title-524610.html . live .
15. Web site: Karlberg holes clutch chip to seal Indian Open . Golfweek (USA Today) . 5 December 2011 . 7 July 2020 . 7 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200707214506/https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2010/12/05/karlberg-holes-clutch-chip-seal-indian-open/ . live .
16. Web site: Vijay Kumar wins Indian Open . The Tribune . Chandigarh, India . 17 March 2002 . 7 July 2020 . 24 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210924095736/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020318/sports.htm#9 . live .
17. News: World at a glance Golf . New Straits Times . Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia . 1 April 1997 . 20 . Google News Archive . 7 July 2020 . 8 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708040908/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UadjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PBUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1289,4909255 . live .
18. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . The World of Professional Golf 1997 . Mark McCormack . IMG Publishing . 1997 . 156, 514 . 1878843176.
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20. News: Aubrey's Indian Open title . The Straits Times . Singapore . 7 March 1994 . 30 . National Library Board . 7 July 2020 . 19 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210919121542/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/issue/straitstimes19940307-1 . live .
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23. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . The World of Professional Golf 1992 . Mark McCormack . Chapmans . 1992 . 313–314, 565–567. 1855926288.
24. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . The World of Professional Golf 1991 . Mark McCormack . Chapmans . 1991 . 278, 516–517 . 1855925583.
25. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . World of Professional Golf 1990 . Mark McCormack . Sackville . 1990 . 280, 519 . 0948615389.
26. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . World of Professional Golf 1989 . Mark McCormack . Collins Willow . 1989 . 274, 497 . 000218284X.
27. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . World of Professional Golf 1988 . Mark McCormack . Collins Willow . 1988 . 250, 461–462 . 0002182831.
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30. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . Ebel World of Professional Golf 1985 . Mark McCormack . Springwood Books . 1985 . 223, 440–441 . 0862541247.
31. News: Junichi clinches crown . The Straits Times . Singapore . 4 April 1983 . 38 . National Library Board . 18 March 2020 . 7 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200207110028/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19830404-1.1.38 . live .
32. News: Hsu triumphs in Indian Open . The Straits Times . Singapore . 22 March 1982 . 37 . National Library Board . 7 July 2020 . 8 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708031300/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19820322-1.1.37 . live .
33. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . Dunhill World of Professional Golf 1982 . Mark McCormack . Springwood Books . 1982 . 228–229, 442–443 . 0862541018.
34. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . Dunhill World of Professional Golf 1981 . Mark McCormack . Springwood Books . 1981 . 164–165, 366–367 . 0862540054.
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36. News: Brask charges in . The Straits Times . Singapore . 6 March 1978 . Page 24 . National Library Board . 16 March 2020 . 10 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200710070633/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19780314-1.1.24 . live .
37. News: Title to Jones . The Straits Times . Singapore . 5 April 1977 . 27 . 16 March 2020 . National Library Board . 19 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210919100946/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19770405-1.1.22 . live .
38. News: Thomson's open . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 5 April 1976 . 16 . Google News Archive . 3 March 2020 . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210052316/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hPhjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WeYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6665%2C1678256 . live .
39. News: 1976-04-05. Thomson wins Indian Open. 12. Johnson City Press. 2021-04-11. 11 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210411035015/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75519101/thomson-wins-indian-open/. live.
40. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . The World of Professional Golf 1976 . Mark McCormack . Collins . 1976 . 284–285, 474–475 . 0385149409.
41. Book: McCormack, Mark H. . The World of Professional Golf 1975 . Mark McCormack . Collins . 1975 . 247–248, 424 . 0002119552.
42. News: Australians make it 1-2-3 in Indian open golf . The Straits Times . Singapore . 26 March 1973 . 24 . National Library Board . 7 July 2020 . 11 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200711040030/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/straitstimes19730326-1.1.24 . live .
43. News: Brian Jones wins . The Glasgow Herald . Glasgow, Scotland . 20 March 1972 . 5 . Google News Archive . 7 July 2020 . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210052316/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SuU9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=d0gMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5115%2C3742712 . live .
44. News: Marsh wins . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 22 March 1971 . 7 July 2020 . 14 . National Library of Australia . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210052324/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110344326 . live .
45. News: Stanton 8th in US golf . The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 17 March 1970 . 7 July 2020 . 21 . National Library of Australia . 10 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210052320/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107914179 . live .
46. Book: McCormack . Mark H. . Mark McCormack . The World of Professional Golf 1970 . 1970 . 257−258, 441 . Hodder and Stoughton . 0340128968.
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48. News: Hosoishi triumphs . The Straits Times . Singapore . 18 April 1967 . 18 . National Library Board . 7 July 2020 . 10 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200710024839/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19670418-1.2.136.5 . live .
49. News: Thomson back from East . The Age . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia . 26 April 1966 . 7 July 2020 . 24 . Newspapers.com . subscription . 8 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708041953/https://www.newspapers.com/image/122117888/ . live .
50. Web site: Previous results of the Indian Open Golf Championship . Indian Golf Union . 6 July 2020 . 28 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200128103516/https://indiangolfunion.org/previous-results-of-the-indian-open-golf-championship/ . live .