By Rahul Banerji
Nitithorn Thippong still has vivid memories of his first professional win at the inaugural edition of the DGC Open presented by Mastercard a year ago.
Ahead of the second edition of the Asian Tour event that will carry an enhanced purse of three-quarters of a million dollars, the popular young Thai said he remembered every shot played last year.
Nitithorn won the 2022 tournament at the Delhi Golf Club in a playoff from Ajeetesh Sandhu, on the very first tie-break hole after he and Sandhu had finished level on seven-under-par 281 after 72 holes.
“I remember the last hole, remember almost every shot, but the highlight was the second shot on the first playoff hole,” he said on Tuesday at the DGC.
“I hit a three wood onto the green. That was the best shot of my life.
“I’m very excited to be back at Delhi Golf Club to defend my title. Last year the key was just to hit the ball in the fairway because the course is quite narrow.”
DGC product Shiv Kapur, also an Asian Tour winner on his home course in the form of the 2017 Panasonic Open India tournament, said it was comforting to be back on the DGC’s fairways and greens.
Home comfort
“There’s a comfort factor in playing here over the years,” the Dubai-based Kapur said.
“The DGC is home in more ways than one for me. My parents used to leave me here and I spent a lot of time playing here and having fun with friends.
“While I’m now a ‘senior’ on the circuit, there is so much to learn from playing alongside the younger players as we have to constantly find ways to keep up with them.
“I congratulate Mastercard on associating with this unique, club-owned event on the Asian Tour and in fact taking it to another level.”
The event will see 138 players from around 35 countries in action including almost 50 Indians, many of whom have won on the Asian Tour as well as on home soil.
Noted Asian Tour Order of Merit number four Sadom Kaewkanjana, who has been on an early hot streak of form with a second and fourth place finish already, “I’ve heard a lot about the Delhi Golf Club from the other Thai boys who have played here often.
“I’ve had a good year and am looking forward to a good performance here.
Learning curve
“Last year I played with a lot of the top players and learnt a lot from them and that has reflected in my golf especially this year as I have been able to bring many of those learnings into my game.”
Added Rahul Singh, Head-International Series, Asian Tour, ““With its very successful beginning in 2022, we are delighted to see the DGC Open return to the Asian Tour with an enhanced prize purse of D 750,000.
“The Delhi Golf Club has been a stomping ground for the Tour – with its hospitality, unique golf course and incredible atmosphere – it is no wonder that this year’s edition will see a very large number of highly ranked Tour players in action here.”
Among the Indians favoured to lift the unique Lal Bangla Trophy on Sunday is Chikkarangappa S., tied sixth in Thailand last week.
“Every Indian player wants to do well at the DGC, it has so much history,” Chikka said.
“I’ve had a decent start to the year including a top-10 at Black Mountain last week so my game is in a good space.”
Passion play
Manasi Narasimhan, vice-president and Head, Marketing and Communications, South Asia, Mastercard, said, “Mastercard continues to celebrate the passions of its cardholders across the globe, and golf (and sports in general) is a key passion area.
“We are honoured to collaborate with the Delhi Golf Club as presenting sponsor of the DGC Open for the second year in a row.
“After last year’s success, we believe there is a lot more in store for us to build on the growing affinity for the sport in India.
“Continuing our support for women in sports, we have curated a priceless experience for women golfers to learn the nuances of the sport from Shiv Kapur and are looking forward to a great display of talent over the next few days.”
Also read: Thailand’s Nitithorn pips Sandhu in inaugural DGC Open play-off
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