Past champions ready to make it count
Chawrasia and Lahiri have finished in the top-3 in their last three starts at the Indian Open. Chawrasia won in 2016 and Lahiri was T-2, while Chawrasia was second when Lahiri won in 2015.
The field for the Hero Indian Open 2017 will include a dozen past champions, who between them have won the tournament 16 times. It makes for one of the largest gatherings of past champions in the national Open of India, which is now 53 years old.
The past five winners, led by defending champion, S.S.P. Chawrasia, will feature in the $1.75 million event, which is cosanctioned by European and Asian Tours.
Apart from Chawrasia (2016), the immediate list includes Anirban Lahiri (2015), Siddikur Rahman (2013), Thaworn Wiratchant (2012) and David Gleeson (2011).
Another interesting feature is that every champion barring Rikard Karlberg (2010) since 2004 is entered for the event. The tournament was not played in 2014.
Chawrasia and Lahiri have finished in the top-3 in their last three starts at the Hero Indian Open. While Chawrasia won in 2016 and Lahiri was T-2, Chawrasia was second when Lahiri won in 2015. Both were T2 when Siddikur Rahman won in 2013.
All the top Indians and world no. 25 Rafa Cabrera-Bello will be seen in action at the Open, which is now in its third year on the European Tour. The field also includes Kiradech Aphinbarnarat of Thailand and a host of other in-form players.
The Hero Indian Open 2017 will be held at the DLF Golf & Country Club from March 9 to 12. The list: 1. S.S.P. Chawrasia (2016), 2. Anirban Lahiri (2015), 3. Siddikur Rahman (2013), 4. Thaworn Wiratchant (2012 and 2005), 5. David Gleeson (2011), 6. C. Muniyappa (2009), 7. Liang Wenchong (2008), 8. Jyoti Randhawa (2007, 2006, 2000), 9. Mardan Mamat (2004), 10. Thongchai Jaidee (2001), 11. Arjun Atwal (1999), 12. Feroze Ali (1998)