The last regular European Tour event for more than a month sees a number of golfers head to Asia this week for the Indian Open, the latest co-sanctioned event between the European and Asian Tours.
It was an Asian who won this tournament last year when SSP Chawrasia prevailed on a course he loves. He is here to defend the title in what looks a wide open and competitive week.
Recent Winners
2016 – SSP Chawrasia
2015 – Anirban Lahiri
The Course
Chawrasia will defend on a different course this week but he has won here in the past too. The course in use this week is the DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi. It was the venue for the now defunct Avantha Masters in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and Chawrasia won that tournament while it was here.
The course itself looks a bit of a monster but there is a real premium on accuracy. It is a par 72 which measures to a full yardage of 7,657 yards. It is tight off the tee but the greens are among the largest you will see. The punishment for waywardness is quite penal though with water around and bunkers which are true hazards this week so it should be a really good test of golf.
I’ve seen a few interviews this week and they all suggest ball striking is critical here both to put the ball in the fairways and to find the right part of the severely undulating greens.
The Field
With some big events in America around the corner it isn’t the strongest field we’ll ever see this week. In terms of world rankings Rafa Cabrera Bello is the standout name but India’s number one Anirban Lahiri is probably the star attraction.
SSP Chawrasia defends his title while some other Asian Tour stalwarts such as Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Scott Hend oppose him. New Thai sensation Phachara Khongwatmai is also looking for a maiden European Tour title having come so close in Perth recently.
Market Leaders
Anirban Lahiri is at the head of the betting this week. The 2015 champion is a 9/1 shot to regain the title but he mentioned of a cold putter in a recent PGA Tour event so I’m not sure I want to be on him despite the support he will receive.
Rafa Cabrera Bello is next in the betting at 11/1. He’s a solid player without too many weaknesses apart from perhaps a fragility on Sunday’s which means he doesn’t win nearly as often as he should and that is a concern.
Peter Uihlein has been popular earlier in the week and he is a 16/1 shot at third favourite while Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jorge Campillo are both 25/1. It is 28/1 bar the five players named.
Main Bet
In truth there isn’t much I like at the head of the market this week but Paul Dunne caught my eye with the putter in the Tshwane last week and that bodes well here as I believe putting will be quite key. He was hitting it quite far last week too and that won’t be a negative this week. He is generally quite an accurate driver so he has all the tools to deliver a decent week which could result in a first European Tour title.
Outsiders
There are three I like at bigger prices. Rashid Khan is the first of those. In European Tour events this season he sits fifth in putts per green in regulation. He should be finding a significant percentage of these greens in the right number given how huge they are so if he can bring this into a putting contest with a solid tee to green game then he has ever chance of going close in his home event.
Gregory Havret has been third around here in the past when the course host the Avantha Masters. Admitted not all of that course is being used here but he’ll know the set up and conditions which is important. He arrives here off the back of a good effort in South Africa last week where he putted well and confidence with the putter makes him dangerous because we know he is one of the best from tee to green. There could just be another big week in him here.
Shiv Kapur is another one who stats well for the week. He is in the top 20 for fairways hit in the events he has played and he leads the tour in putts per green in regulation with the exception of Harold Varner III who shouldn’t really qualify. Kapur has a top 10 here when some of the course hosted the Avantha Masters way back when and a combination of accuracy off the tee and a warm putter could see him go close in a wide open field this week.
Tips
Back P.Dunne to win Indian Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Coral (1/5 1-7)
Back him here:
Back R.Khan to win Indian Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 67.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back G.Havret to win Indian Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
Back S.Kapur to win Indian Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 151.00 with Boylesports (1/5 1-6)
Back him here:
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