Sadom, Gunn along with Asia’s premier golfers confirm participation at The DGC Open

Tournament to be the strongest Asian Tour full-field event ever to be held in India 

Sadom Kaewkanjana (Photo: Asian Tour).

Khel Today Bureau 

New Delhi: Some of Asia’s best and brightest young stars will return for the second edition of the DGC Open presented by Mastercard, which now has on offer a massive USD 750,000 prize purse, 50 per cent more than the inaugural edition, at the biggest event backed by a golf club.

The Asian Tour event, to be staged from March 16-19, 2023, falls in the first quarter of a packed schedule of the Tour and will see the strongest Asian Tour full-field event ever witnessed in India. It includes 5 among the current Top-10 of the Asian Tour Order confirming their participation.

Additionally, a big number of players who have won in the last few seasons and youngsters who have grown wings and begun making a mark will also take part at the iconic Delhi Golf Club.

With current form always a big hook for tournaments, seven players who have won titles in the last two seasons will be here including the defending champion, Nitithorn Thippong, who besides winning the DGC Open presented by Mastercard also won the highly-rated International Series Singapore title.

The current crop of highly talented stars includes Sadom Kaewkanjana, currently third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, besides Gunn Charoenkul (4th), Berry Henson (5th), Suradit Yongcharoenchai (6th) and Phachara Khongwatmai (10th). In addition, there are four others in Top-20 and 11 more, including the defending champion Nitithorn, in the Top-50.

Gunn Charoenkul (Photo:  Asian Tour).

This star-studded list will be supplemented by as many eight foreign players who have previously won in India, so Indian conditions will no longer be new to them. Further, almost 10 Indians, who have won Asian Tour events at home, many of them at this very course, will tee up.
Several legends of the game, including Thaworn Wiratchant (twice), Jyoti Randhawa and Scott Hend, who have won Asian Tour Order of Merit, will be present alongside the likes of Chapchai Nirat, who set a Tour record of 32-under in a 72-hole tournament in India in 2009.

 

The Delhi Golf Club, considered as the Home of Indian golf, began a unique trend in Indian golf by having its own international tournament. “The DGC is extremely proud of its legacy. It has been the oldest venue for international tournaments in India, promoted young talent for almost half a century and has seen numerous Arjun Awardees and champions emerge from our Club. With golf now in the programme for the Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games, the DGC stays committed to creating more opportunities for the youth. The DGC Open presented by Mastercard is another step in motivating them,” said Raj Khanna, Captain of the DGC.
The home challenge is always something spectators and local fans look forward to and they will be headed by Gaganjeet Bhullar, who in late 2022 became the first Indian to win 10 Asian Tour titles when he won the Mandiri Indonesia Open. Bhullar, whose only international win at home came in a Challenge Tour event, is looking for his maiden Asian Tour success at home.
The emergence of youth stars like Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat, Honey Baisoya, Viraj Madappa, Karandeep Kochhar and S Chikkarangappa besides proven winners like SSP Chawrasia and Shiv Kapur will get strong home support. Chawrasia and Kapur have all won at the DGC at least once and have a huge following.
Furthermore, India’s top three amateurs and the DGC’s club champion will also be seen in action at the prestigious event.

The DGC Open presented by Mastercard is a 72-hole Asian Tour event with prize purse of USD 750,000. It will be played at the Delhi Golf Club from March 16 to 19, 2023 and entry will be free for all spectators.