Hero Indian Open: Rai can start fast

Each-way terms: 1/5 odds, 7 places

Weather forecast for New Delhi: "Hazy sun; hot; air quality will be extremely hazardous," says accuweather. As if the players didn't have enough to think about them on this weird course! Temps start around 70 degrees for the opening groups and steadily rise to a peak of 97 at 4pm. The wind takes a similar path, increasing from 5mph at 10am to double that at 3pm.

First-round leader history:
2018 - 65 Emiliano Grillo (12:00 tee-time)
2017 - 66 David Horsey (12:20 tee-time)

Strategy: Both first-round leaders have been afternoon starters although the weather suggests the morning wave will have the more pleasant conditions (less wind, less oppressive) this time. Perhaps best to have a foot in both camps although I'll take two from the morning.

Rai can fly early

Aaron Rai has some strong connections with this event given that his grandparents are Indian and he says just competing in India is a "blessing".

"It is in incredible shape and is probably my favourite course in the world," he adds. Hmmm. Good PR or does he really mean it?

Whatever his words, at least we know that Rai has the tools to take it on.

Straight hitting is a big asset at a course where playing from the fairway lessens chances of the big number which lurks everywhere.

Rai is ranked 32nd in Driving Accuracy and also 25th in Greens In Regulation so he does a good job of finding the putting surface too.

Those skills helped him go wire-to-wire in the Hong Kong Open in November and also take tied ninth at this very course last year (1st for DA and 8th for GIR).

He's missed his last two cuts but Rai, who was also R1 leader in the 2018 Qatar Masters, is very capable of bouncing back on a track which he did a fine job of negotiating 12 months ago.

The Englishman heads off from the 10th tee at 07:55.

Horsey can come out fast again

David Horsey was the first-round leader on his only start at DLF G&CC in 2017 and is worth a bet at 60/1 to repeat the trick.

Since then, he was second after the opening lap in back-to-back weeks at the Dubai Desert Classic and Maybank Championship last year while, more recently, a 68 put him T4 after 18 holes of the Oman Open earlier this month.

Horsey's form is a little patchy but T11 in Abu Dhabi (R2 66) and T12 in Oman were decent efforts and he should have better memories of this course than most after going on to finish tied eighth here two years ago.

He's 52nd for Driving Accuracy and 10th for Strokes Gained: Putting this season and that looks a good combination for this course on what we've seen of it so far.

Horsey comes under starters orders at 12:00 from the 10th.

Da Silva to strike gold

I'm looking for a straight-hitting early starter at a big price for my final pick and one who jumps out is veteran Adilson Da Silva.

The Brazilian pegs it up at 07:50 and is an industry-best 110/1.

He's a short driver but absolutely laser-straight and did go round here in 67 on his final lap in 2017 to finish tied 21st.

A winner at the Taiwan Masters in Ryder Cup week, he's since had a couple of top 10s in South Africa and was a useful tied 17th in the New Zealand Open two starts ago, topping those Driving Accuracy stats once more.

Da Silva was fourth in this event in 2016 and T12 the year before so enjoys his trips to India and while I doubt he can keep it going for four days on this track he can certainly sparkle for one.