Full range of Indian golf talent will be on show at DGC Open

By Rahul Banerji

Gaganjeet Bhullar and Karandeep Kochhar may at the opposite ends of the scales when it comes to success on the Asian Tour.

Yet, they also represent the extent of talent among the Indians who will tee off at the inaugural $500,000 DGC Open presented by Mastercard from Thursday, March 24

The DGC Open is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India.

Bhullar, with nine wins on the Asian Tour, and the promising Kochhar, who won a pro event while still being an amateur, geared up at the International Series, Thailand, the lead-up event to the DGC Open.

Playing at the Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Bhullar shot a superb 8-under 64 and finished in the top five in his first appearance of 2022.

Kochhar, winner last month on the PGTI, finished tied for 16th in the event, while Ajeetesh Sandhu and Honey Baisoya shot all four rounds in the 60s.

Also showing good form were Aman Raj, Viraj Madappa and S. Chikkarangappa.

New layout

Bhullar said, “I am looking forward to the DGC Open and I really loved the new layout, where I had the opportunity to play when it was first opened.

“I played alongside Shubhankar Sharma and Kapil Dev and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. Am relishing the chance to play on it competitively.”

Kochhar, who belongs to the rare group of amateurs who won a pro tournament before turning pro, has blossomed into a fine player.

There was a point when he had a share of the lead at Black Mountain and is looking at going better than that. Kochhar’s best on Asian Tour is T-2 at the 2019 Panasonic Open.

“I love playing the DGC and I can’t wait for it to start,” he said and could well be one of the players to watch out for.

Indeed, the full range of Indian talent will be on display during the week. The younger group have begun to make a name for themselves, while the experienced lot have carved out success on the Asian Tour.

Heavy hitters

Jyoti Randhawa (eight wins) and Jeev Milkha Singh (six wins) are two veterans as is S.S.P. Chawrasia with his six wins. 

Shiv Kapur (three Asian Tour titles plus the unofficial Royals Cup in 2017), Rahil Gangjee and Rashid Khan with two each would surely love to add to their trophy cabinet on home turf.

As would several one-time winners like Chiragh Kumar, Viraj Madappa, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Khalin Joshi The list also includes the seasoned Mukesh Kumar and C. Muniyappa.

In Kolkata this week, Yuvraj Singh Sandhu emerged as another one to keep an eye out on given his run of consistency that was capped with the PGTI Players Championship at the Tolly.

Also read: Veer Ahlawat sets his sights on upcoming DGC Open