Shubhankar Sharma (left to right), Rayhan Thomas and Yuvraj Sandhu will be among the leading home challengers at the Hero Indian Open 2026 which tees off at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon on Thursday. Image courtesy HIO.
By Rahul Banerji
Last week’s rains have left the DLF Golf and Country Club course more open to low scores than many past editions of the Hero Indian Open and it remains to be seen how the 138-strong field makes use of the conditions.
Said defending champion Eugenio Chacarra about one of the more difficult tracks on the DP World Tour’s schedule on tournament eve, “I think it’s in some ways it’s harder (than in 2025), the rough is higher.
“You can tell that there was some rain last couple of weeks and the fairways are a little thicker, little softer. Definitely the greens are a little softer than we had on the weekend (last year).
“(But) they’re getting firmer. On Monday the ball was getting some backspin and today the ball was skipping a little more. I would like to see them a little firmer.”
The Spaniard, who turned 26 last week, is up against a quality field that includes a past major winner in Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Hero brand ambassador Akshay Bhatia, currently world ranked 22.
The 24-year-old Indian-American who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month and finished sixth at the Players Championship thereafter, will make his first professional appearance on Indian soil and is keenly aware of his fans’ expectations.
“I’m very excited. This was supposed to happen in 2020 but Covid happened and the trip didn’t. But really happy to be here for the first time. The course looks very difficult from what I’ve seen so far.”
Bigger purse
This edition of the National Open will also an increased prize purse of $2.55 million besides offering valuable ranking points to many looking to make the most of the opportunity.
One such is 24-year-old Spaniard David Puig, world ranked 75th and a rising star on the LIV Golf roster who has been following a hectic schedule around the world in search of points to qualify for next month’s Masters Championship.
“I’ve come all this way to India to try and win and try to get in the Masters,” Puig said on the X handle Flushing It.
“My game is good. I’m hitting it great and I’ve had five good events on LIV after playing well in Dubai on the DP World Tour and a great end to last year winning the Australian PGA.
“I don’t know if it will be enough but I want to win and do everything I can to be at the Masters. It would mean everything to compete at Augusta. A dream come true.”
Home challenge
And then there is the home contingent, spearheaded as it has been for the past several years by DP World Tour regular Shubhankar Sharma and fellow Chandigarh native Yuvraj Sandhu who has joined him on the European circuit this year.
The last Indian to win the Open was Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia who did it twice in, in 2016 and 2017 after Anirban Lahiri had taken the title in 2015.
Since then, Veer Ahlawat has come closest with his shared second place finish two years ago and Sharma, Sandhu as well as Dubai-based Indian Rayhan Thomas are looking forward to the event.
Said Sharma on Wednesday, “It’s a very special event, one of those we look forward to from the start of the year.
“This DLF course has over the years become very iconic and very popular amongst all the players on tour. This is one of those courses where you’ve got to put your best foot forward throughout the tournament.
“I’m sure it’ll be a great week. You want to aim to win tournaments and at the end of your career, this is how you judge yourself as a player.”
Special event
Added Sandhu, “Like Shubhankar said, DLF is one golf course that every Indian looks forward to, especially at the National Open.
“I’ve played well the last season. It’s been a dream season to me. And I still want to cap it off with a great finish at the Hero Indian Open, hopefully with a W this week.
“The DLF is one course that I always want to play well and you always finding ways to manoeuvre around the golf course, would say. And luckily this week the golf course is much more gettable than what it was playing last year.
“We’re seeing softer greens, we’re seeing more grainy greens and the roughs a little bit down than last year. So I’m looking forward to it.”
Korn Ferry tour card-holder Rayhan Thomas played the Hero Indian Open last year besides having tested himself on the DLF course in the past. It’s fun, says the 26-year-old.
“I’ve played this course a few times before and last year it was a reminder that this course is really hard. And this year it will probably be just about the same.
“I think it will get tougher as the week progresses but I love coming back for this tournament. It’s an honour for me, so glad I’m here.
There are more than a few other names from the 26 nationalities represented who will crop up as the Open pans out over the next four days, as the event remains a stage for players to make a name for themselves.
Also read: Think I thrive on the pressure of must-win situations, says Bhatia
Related
Discover more from Tee Time Tales
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.