The European Tour returns to Asia for the Hero Indian Open, hosted by DLF G&CC in New Delhi.
The course in India's capital, hosting the tournament for the second year running, bared its teeth last season; the field averaged +3.3 to par, the highest of any course in the schedule in 2017. This was also the only course on tour last season where the par fives played over par, with an average of 5.09.
A tough test may well lie in wait for the field assembling in India this week. Our stats guru has taken stock of the numbers and come up with the following three players to keep an eye on...
Favourite: SSP Chawrasia
The numbers just don’t lie – SSP is the King of New Delhi, with four wins in the Indian capital. Whenever the 39 year old tees it up in his home Open, he’s a dead cert to be at the tournament’s summit at some stage of the week. In his last three appearances in this tournament, he has won twice and earned a runner-up spot, with the most recent victory coming on this track last year. He pulled off a resounding seven-stroke win that would have been greater if not for a closing bogey.
In this event, SSP has compensated for lack of distance off the tee and being below average in finding greens by being ruthless once he reaches the putting surface. In his last five appearances at DLF G&CC, he has averaged 2.2 putts fewer than the field per round. Nobody in this week’s field has matched that. If his short game is on, expect another SSP run at the title.
Form horse: Joost Luiten
Joost Luiten has caught a wave recently and doesn’t appear willing to climb off. A share of 11th at the Maybank Championship was followed by victory in the NBO Oman Open two weeks ago and he arrives in India off the back of a solid week at the WGC-Mexico Championship. Joost is trending in the right direction.
Luiten hasn’t finished a tournament over par since the KLM Open in September of last year, 13 events ago. That consistency, coupled with his enviable ball-striking, should offset the fact he has only played once in India before. Coming off the back of a tie for 37th in a world class field in Mexico City should give the Dutchman all the confidence he needs to continue his strong run of form.
Wildcard: Sean Crocker
In six appearances on the European Tour this season, Sean Crocker has three top 16s – reason enough to believe he could be in contention once again this week. The Zimbabwean-born American’s record would have been better had he not slipped away in the final group at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters a fortnight ago. Rounds of 67-68-67 had him in the mix to follow up his impressive showing at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, where he was a beaten quarter-finalist.
Crocker proved strong off the tee in Qatar, finishing second in driving distance average, and was also in the top 20 in Greens in Regulation. If he plays true to form, he could seriously benefit from another strong week with the irons; last season just 41 per cent of players saved par after missing the green at DLF G&CC. With the form he's in, any advantage on the field could see him enjoy another fine week.
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