DGC Open draws big Indian entry list, Chikka is man in form

By Rahul Banerji

Chikkarangappa S. with a top-10 finish behind him last week in Thailand will be looking to convert that form into something more substantial at the $750,000 DGC Open from Thursday.

The Bangalore golfer heads a sizeable home contingent at Delhi Golf Club hoping to make the most of the only Asian Tour event scheduled for the year on Indian soil.

With the purse boosted by 50 per cent from the half million dollars offered last year, the stakes are high and the field stronger with 40 of the top 60 on the Tour’s order of Merit in Ne Delhi this week.

Chikka’s shared sixth at the International Series Thailand at Hua Hin is the best of the lot going into the DGC Open.

He tees off on Thursday at the event presented by Mastercard alongside city-mate Khalin Joshi and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, currently 24^th on the OoM.

“Every Indian player wants to do well at the DGC, it has so much history,” Chikka said on tournament eve.

Good space

“I’ve had a decent start to the year including a top-1o at Black Mountain last week so my game is in a good space.

“The wind seems less this year as compared to 2022 but that could change and as of now the greens look and feel much softer than they were last year. I’m quite excited about this week.” 

For Kolkata golfer Viraj Madappa, a winner at this venue in his junior years as well as a professional, the DGC is almost a home course.

“I don’t thing I even need a yardage book here, I’ve played the DGC so often. As long as you’re putting the ball in the right place, it should be good,” the lanky golfer said.

“And that’s the only thing I think that’s important on this golf course – anyone who puts themselves in good positions and has a halfway decent putting game, has a good chance of contending.”

Madappa conceded he had not reached the levels expected of him from the early years but said he needed time away from golf as the schedule and travel had all become a load recently.

“I’ve only played two events. I took a break in February, just wanted to take some time off. The game’s still a little rusty.

Time out

“I was kind of like tired of playing golf., tired of the travel, tired of everything that came with professional golf.

“I think it got to a stage I just didn’t feel like my heart would be there. So I wanted to take some time off.

“For me it has been about enjoying the game and playing good golf, never been about winning golf tournaments.”

Chikka, Madappa and 47 others will believe they have a good chance of making a mark this week.

With a good number being given exemption from the domestic tour as well, the home challenge is a solid one.

Ten-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar had a solid finish last year, and the likes of Rashid Khan, two-time Indian open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia, and the in-form Veer Ahlawat and Honey Baisoya are an active threat.

From the overseas contingent, there is defending champion Nitithorn Thippong, fellow Thais Sadom Kaewkanjana, and Phachara Khongwatmai, Scott Hend of Australia, and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg, a two-time winner at the DGC 13 years ago, who will be a sentimental favourite.

Also read: First-time winner Nitithorn excited to defend DGC Open title