For the third straight year, the Hero Indian Open heads to the Gary Player-designed DLF G&CC in New Delhi.

The par 72 is packed with water hazards, and features a man-made quarry on the 16th and 17th holes but divides opinion. In fact, one look has been enough for several players who vowed never to return.

India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia scored a home win in the 2017 edition, beating the field by seven shots, although last year’s play-off was an all-English affair, with Matt Wallace edging out Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston.

With the event running concurrently alongside the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Europe’s finest are in Texas, so the door is open for some of the Tour’s lesser lights.

Side with Sharmahttps://twitter.com/EuropeanTour/status/1110200311757455360

As this week’s course in India isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it makes sense to side with those who have positive previous experiences of DLF G&CC.

From the top half-dozen in the betting, Shubhankar Sharma fits the bill.

This is the Indian’s home track when he is not competing around the world and he made his local knowledge tell last year when tied for seventh, that included a course-record 64 in the second round.

Tied second in the PGTI Players Championship on his most recent start in India last month, Sharma warmed up with a top-30 finish in last week’s Maybank Championship, so he could be heading into decent form at the perfect time.

Go for Green

The Open Championship 2018 – Day One – Carnoustie Golf Links
Gavin Green will be hoping he can shine again in India. (Richard Sellers/PA)

Only one player in this week’s field has cracked the top 20 in both years the event has been played at DLF G&CC – Malaysia’s Gavin Green.

The youngster shot a third-round 65 on the way to finishing runner-up in 2017 and returned to finish tied 16th last year.

Green felt the pressure of trying to shine in front of his home fans in last week’s Maybank Championship when tied 30th but, with the spotlight not on him in India, the 2017 Asian Order of Merit winner should be able to swing freely again.

Horsey can gallop into top 10 again

English golfers performed well in this event last year, with four making the top 12.

In 2017, the highest-placed Englishman was David Horsey, who tied eighth after he had opened with a 66 to take the first-round lead.

Horsey skipped the event last year but is back at DLF G&CC this week and showing enough form of late to suggest he can make an impression.

He’s had some mixed results in 2019 but they include tied 11th in Abu Dhabi and tied 12th in the Oman Open so it would take only a slight improvement for the four-time European Tour winner to finish in the top 10 again.

Recommended bets

Shubhankar Sharma to win
Gavin Green each-way
David Horsey for top 10