Shubhankar Sharma, SSP Chawrasia to spearhead home challenge as Indian Open returns after four years
FirstpostNew Delhi: The Hero Indian Open golf returns later this month after a four-year hiatus with a bevy of national and international stars in action and a bigger prize purse as the organisers aim for normality to be restored to the premier event following the COVID-19 disruption. A total of 28 Indians, including Shubhankar, Manu Gandas — who earned a card in the DP World Tour because of the latest alliance between PGTI, DP World Tour and PGA Tour — and two-time Indian Open winner SSP Chawrasia — who has received a sponsor invite — will rub shoulders with the best in the world. Shubhankar, who got off to a flying start at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship — the first stroke play event of the year on the DP World Tour — will spearhead the Indian challenge and hope to bag his maiden Indian Open trophy. With two DP World Tour titles to his name, the 21-year-old Hojgaard will turn 22 a little over two weeks after the Indian Open and a win at the DLF Golf and Country Club will be an early birthday present for the Dane, currently ranked 133rd in the world. Terming the Indian Open as the country’s flagship event, Indian Golf Union president Brijinder Singh said it was time to get the bonhomie back to the event after four years of COVID-enforced break.