Asian Tour Yearbook - 2022

‘Fever’ pitch at Delhi Golf Club High praise for revamped course S peaking ahead of the much-anticipated return of international professional golf to India at one of Asia’s most revered tournament venues, Manjit Singh and Cho Minn Thant caught the mood perfectly. Almost 2½ years after Joohyung Kim emerged victorious in the Panasonic Open India, the Asian Tour was back on Indian soil for the inaugural DGC Open presented by Mastercard. And there was an undeniably special feeling in the air. Singh, President, the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), said: “The DGC Open is a new tournament, on a newly renovated Gary Player Design course and in many respects represents a new start for everyone involved. “It’s an exciting opportunity for the Delhi Golf Nitithorn Thippong (ABOVE) with his maiden Asian Tour title. 43 I can’t describe my feeling right now. To win on the Asian Tour, I have been waiting for this for a long time. NITITHORN THIPPONG Club to play a key role in the return of international tournament golf to India. We feel it’s extremely important we set the wheels in motion to restore tournament golf in India and help the game we are all so passionate about.” Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, was equally upbeat. “The addition of The DGC Open to our 2022 schedule is a massive boost for the Asian Tour. “The Delhi Golf Club – the quintessential home of golf in India – has been a regular host venue on the Asian Tour for many years. We’re extremely grateful for their continued support, which is especially important in these unprecedented times.” For decades, the Lodhi Course at DGC has been affectionately known as the grand old dame of Indian golf. Steeped in history, the tree-lined layout has traditionally made US Open fairways look generously wide, placing a strong emphasis on accuracy off the tee. In 2019, a significant overhaul of the Lodhi Course was undertaken by nine-time Major champion Player with a focus on revamping the greens and reshaping bunkers. The approval rating from participants in the fourth leg of the 2022 Asian Tour was pretty much unanimous – from grizzled DGC veterans to T H E D G C O P E N P R E S E N T E D B Y M A S T E R C A R D DE LH I GO LF C LUB | MAR CH 24 -27 | P R IZE MON E Y US$50 0,0 0 0