Hero Indian Open 2023: Course and current form stats

• Tricky greens in New Delhi

• Can Bekker break his 'Euro' duck?

• Sharma goes for glory on home soil

The DP World Tour makes a welcome return to India for this week's tournament in New Delhi.

Not since pre-Covid times, in 2019, has the Tour ventured into India and this week's event at DLF Country Club will be the 12th 'Euro tournament' to have been staged in the country over the past 15 years.

For three straight seasons, from 2017, India's national open was held over DLF's Gary Player course which, once again, takes centre stage this coming week.

Opened in October 2015, Player's layout is undulating with tight fairways that demands great accuracy from the tee.

This tree-lined and parkland course has an abundance of dog-legs, as well as large, undulating putting surfaces, while water comes into play on seven holes.

These tricky greens will require a deft touch with the putter, as well as solid scrambling skills should a player be slightly wayward with any approach shot.

During the three years (2017-19) that the Player course hosted the Indian Open on the European Tour, a total of just four golfers managed to break 280 for 72 holes.

Half of the 18 holes were built on land acquired by DLF in 2014, while Player re-shaped the other nine from the club's existing Arnold Palmer course which was opened 24 years ago.

The Palmer Course, which used to be 18 holes but is now nine, staged four European Tour events between 2008 and 2012.

DLF Country Club, which is 700 feet above sea level, is situated approximately 12 miles south-west of New Delhi city centre.

Latest betting for this week's Hero Indian Open

DP World Tour Consistency Chart

Most Top 20 Finishes (Last 12 Months)
T20s
11: Oliver Bekker
10: Thorbjorn Olesen
9: Robert MacIntyre
9: Yannik Paul
7: Jorge Campillo
7: Angel Hidalgo Portillo
7: Jazz Janewattananond
7: Mikko Korhonen
7: Edoardo Molinari
7: Marcel Siem
Only events on DP World Tour are taken into account
Only those entered this week are included in table

Six To Watch

Oliver Bekker: The South African won on home soil two weeks ago, which was the eighth Sunshine Tour victory of his career to date. Moving ever closer to a maiden title on the 'European' equivalent.

Daniel Gale: Flies in from Australia having posted three top-10s from four starts - on home soil - already this year. Although this week will be a step-up, regarding quality of field, the 26-year-old should still be full of confidence. Has a best career finish on the DP World Tour of tied-ninth (Australian PGA Championship).

Thorbjorn Olesen: Winner last week and goes again on Thursday. The Dane is now a seven-time champion on the DP World Tour, including twice during the last 10 months.

Yannik Paul: Was runner-up last week in Thailand and will be seeking a second Tour title this coming Sunday.

Shubhankar Sharma: The former world No 64 will enjoy home support this week, as he chases his first DP World Tour title in over five years. He tied-seventh over Gary Player's layout in 2018.

Jeung-Hun Wang: The South Korean tees-up in India on the back of posting a brace of top-10s in Singapore and Thailand.

Latest betting for this year's Masters Tournament

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves