Gallacher returns to defend title
NEW DELHI: With critical world ranking points at stake, the Hero Indian Open next month assumes significance. To be played at the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram from March 19-22, the chasing pack’s endeavour will be to change the Indian pecking order, which has Rashid Khan (world No 180) and Udayan Mane (241) as the top two in men’s golf and tipped to make the Tokyo Olympics as of now.
Shubhankar Sharma (271), Shiv Kapur (280), Ajeetesh Sandhu (328), Chikkarangappa S (382) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (388) pose an immediate threat to Khan and Mane’s status and will be fancying their chances of dislodging Mane in particular who has collected world ranking points by just playing the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). The group of five has full playing rights on the European or Asian Tour and also a lot more playing opportunities than the 28-yearold Mane, who became only the second on the PGTI to post three consecutive wins with the title at Bengaluru last week. At 457, Anirban Lahiri may be going through a lean patch, but a top finish at the national Open, which he won in 2015, or a strong week on the PGA Tour, where he currently plays, could also change the equation.
Among international players, Stephen Gallacher will return to defend his title at the $1.75 million event, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tour. Apart from Gallacher, there is a fair sprinkling of winners from the European Tour like Andy Sullivan, Joost Luiten, former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn and 2018 Indian Open winner Matt Wallace.