Location New Delhi, India Par 72 | Established 1964 Length 7,657 yards (7,002 m) | |
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Course(s) DLF Golf and Country Club Tour(s) Asian Tour
European Tour (2015+) | ||
The Indian Open, known as the Hero Indian Open due to sponsorship, is a golf tournament on the Asian Tour that is currently held at the Delhi Golf Club. It became a European Tour co-sanctioned event in 2015.
The inaugural event was held in 1964 and won by Peter Thomson of Australia, who was the inspiration behind the event. Thomson used to stop off in India whilst travelling worldwide to play and soon realised the potential for golf and that the best way to promote it would be an international tournament. It was this insight that persuaded the Indian Golf Union to establish the Indian Open. Thompson continued to play in the event and won again in 1966 and 1976. His three wins was equalled by Jyoti Randhawa in 2007.
The first Indian winner was amateur Prem Gopal (Billoo) Sethi, who in 1965 won by seven strokes. He still remains the only amateur winner. It was not until 1991, when Ali Sher became champion, that India had another winner.
In 1970 the Indian Open became part of the Asia Golf Circuit and as a result the field increased in strength with notable winners such as three time major champion Payne Stewart.
There have been a number of sponsors over the years, with Hero Honda Motors Ltd taking over sponsorship in 2005. The prize fund for 2016 increased to US$1.66 million.