Skip to content
en-gb GO TO bet365 Sports
DLF Golf and Country Club
  1. Golf

DP World Tour - Indian Open preview: Tough test awaits on India return

The DP World Tour moves west from Thailand this week, with the Indian Open taking place at the fearsome Signature Course at DLF Golf and Country Club, where Stephen Gallacher took the honours the last time the tournament was staged back in 2019.

Thorbjorn Olesen destroyed Amata Spring Golf Club in Bangkok last week - the Dane reached 24-under par to win the Thailand Classic by four shots - and the seven-time DP World Tour champion is hunting further success in India.

WhatIndian Open
WhereSignature Course, DLF Golf and Country Club, New Delhi
WhenFrom 01:30, Thursday 23rd February
How to watchSky Sports Golf
OddsThorbjorn Olesen 11/1, Nicolai Hojgaard 12/1, Robert MacIntyre 14/1, Yannik Paul 18/1, Oliver Bekker 20/1, Joost Luiten 20/1

Olesen opts to avoid a break

Many players like to put their feet up after a victory and wallow in their triumph, but Olesen is keen to ride the crest of this wave and get himself further up the world rankings.

Olesen is a former world number 33 who roared back into the world's top 100 with his Thailand heroics.

From 92nd in the rankings, Olesen will be looking to get into the top 50 as soon as possible, opening up avenues to the Majors.

"Thunderbear", as he is known by his peers, is available at 11/1 to complete back-to-back DP World Tour wins in India.

Jostling with Olesen for favouritism is his compatriot Nicolai Hojgaard, who played alongside him in the final group of the Thailand Classic.

Hojgaard was slow out the blocks on Sunday and was always chasing Olesen's shadow, but the younger Dane has made a strong start to this year and will be a popular 12/1 chance.

Hojgaard had never been to India until jetting over this week and he lacks experience in Asia.

The slightly older Robert MacIntyre is also prominent in the betting - available at 14/1 - and the Scottish left-hander is feeling confident despite some poor performances in recent weeks.

MacIntyre was told by his friend Stephen Gallacher, a former champion at the DLF, that this course will suit him.

It remains to be seen if Gallacher's prediction comes true, but 2023 form figures of 20-38-MC-57 do not put MacIntyre high on the shortlist of many punters.

Standard each-way terms of a quarter the odds, the first five places are available for the Indian Open, while there are also alternative options, including a fifth the odds the first eight places, in the Each Way Extra section.

Indian Open course details

The Signature Course, DLF Golf and Country Club, New Delhi is a 7,380-yard, par-72, with four par-fives, ten par-fours and four par-threes.

A field of 132 will be tackling this fearsome track, with the top 65 and ties making the weekend.

Improving Japanese Kazuki Higa is the highest-ranked player in the field (75th), while Gallacher and SSP Chawrasia are the only two course winners in the field.

The Indian Open was staged at the Signature Course in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Gary Player created the layout in 2015.

The course is 700 feet above sea level, providing more carry, but serious trouble spots lurk on every hole, demanding accuracy, and the greens are full of grain.

Sunny, hot, calm conditions are forecast for all four days. All three winners of the Indian Open at the Signature Course ranked inside the top 20 of the putting stats.

Related Golf News

Jon Rahm: Age, net worth, major wins

Rory McIlroy: Age, net worth and tee times

Tiger Woods: Age, fitness, net worth and major wins

Three to follow

Shubhankar Sharma

The course-record holder at the Signature is Shubhankar Sharma, who fired a second-round 64 in the 2018 Indian Open, and the local hero used to practice regularly at this track.

Knowledge of the difficult layout counts for a lot this week and 25/1 will catch the eye of many punters.

Sharma has played some great golf recently, including third place in the Nedbank Challenge in November, and should thrive on home turf.

Pablo Larrazabal

Newcomers to this week's venue may be shocked by what they find - deep bunkers, water hazards and danger lurking everywhere - so course experience seems crucial.

Pablo Larrazabal finished fourth in the 2018 Indian Open and can be backed at 25/1 to go three places better this week.

Larrazabal is a seven-time DP World Tour champion, with two of those victories coming last year. He will fear nobody in this line-up.

Jeunghun Wang

Korean ace Jeunghun Wang has bounced back to professional golf from his military service and has finished third and eighth in his last two starts.

The 20/1 about the resurgent 27-year-old will tempt plenty of punters who have watched this former world number 39 getting back to his best.

Related Articles

bet365 uses cookies

We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy

New to bet365? Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets

Join Now

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.