Ace golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar will lead Indian challenge in the strongest Asian Tour full-field -USD 750,000 DGC Open to be played here from 16 to 19 March here.

Some of Asia’s best golfers including defending champion, Nitithorn Thippong, third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit,Sadom Kaewkanjana besides Gunn Charoenkul (4th), Berry Henson (5th), Suradit Yongcharoenchai (6th) and Phachara Khongwatmai (10th) will be seen in action in the second edition of the DGC Open which now offers 50 per cent more than the inaugural edition. In addition, there are four others in Top-20 and 11 more, including the defending champion Nitithorn, in the Top-50.

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Bhullar, whose only international win at home came in a Challenge Tour event, is looking for his maiden Asian Tour success at home. The emergence of youth stars like Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat, Honey Baisoya, Viraj Madappa, Karandeep Kochhar and S Chikkarangappa besides winners like SSP Chawrasia and Shiv Kapur will get strong home support. Chawrasia and Kapur have all won at the DGC at least once and have a huge following.

Furthermore, India’s top three amateurs and the DGC’s club champion will also be seen in action at the prestigious event. Additionally, a big number of players who have won in the last few seasons and youngsters who have grown wings and begun making a mark will also take part at the iconic Delhi Golf Club.

With current form always a big hook for tournaments, seven players who have won titles in the last two seasons will be here who besides winning the DGC Open presented by Mastercard also won the highly-rated International Series Singapore title.

This star-studded list will be supplemented by as many eight foreign players who have previously won in India, so Indian conditions will no longer be new to them. Further, almost 10 Indians, who have won Asian Tour events at home, many of them at this very course, will tee up.

Several legends of the game, including Thaworn Wiratchant (twice), Jyoti Randhawa and Scott Hend, who have won Asian Tour Order of Merit, will be present alongside the likes of Chapchai Nirat, who set a Tour record of 32-under in a 72-hole tournament in India in 2009.

The Delhi Golf Club, considered as the Home of Indian golf, began a unique trend in Indian golf by having its own international tournament. “The DGC is extremely proud of its legacy. It has been the oldest venue for international tournaments in India, promoted young talent for almost half a century and has seen numerous Arjun Awardees and champions emerge from our Club.

With golf now in the programme for the Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games, the DGC stays committed to creating more opportunities for the youth. The DGC Open presented by Mastercard is another step in motivating them,” said Raj Khanna, Captain of the DGC.