Written by: Anjali Mishra 

 

Tournament golf in India is set to receive a huge boost next year when the inaugural The DGC Open tees-off at The Delhi Golf Club, from March 24-27, 2022 – triumphantly signalling the return of the Asian Tour to India for the first time in nearly two-and-a-half years.

 

The exciting new event, which will be held on the freshly refurbished Lodhi Course and will feature a generous prize of US$500,000, will be one of the highlights of the Asian Tour's early season schedule in 2022.

 

Final round of the Panasonic Open India 2018 at Delhi Golf Club, New Delhi

 

“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,” said Manjit Singh, President, The Delhi Golf Club.

 

“It is an exciting opportunity for The Delhi Golf Club to play a key role in the return of international tournament golf to India. We feel it is extremely important that we set the wheels in motion to restore tournament golf in India and help the game we are all so passionate about. To commemorate this occasion Mr. Gary Player, himself, is scheduled to be present.”

 

In November 2019, Korean youngster Joohyung Kim won the Panasonic Open India, the last time the Asian Tour held an event in India. The Delhi Golf Club staged an Asian Tour tournament in October of 2018, which was the most recent occasion.

The DGC Open will be promoted by The Delhi Golf Club.

 

The famous club will strictly adhere to all Indian government COVID-19 protocols to ensure a safe environment for players and staff.

 

“The addition of The DGC Open to our 2022 schedule is a massive boost for the Asian Tour and something we have been working very hard on behind the scenes to facilitate,” said Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of 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. And we are extremely grateful for their continued support, which is especially important to us in these unprecedented times.”

 

The highly-rated Lodhi course, which had a significant refurbishment in 2019, is likely to present a different challenge with its refurbished greens and reconfigured bunkers when the Tour returns for the first time since India's Khalin Joshi won the 2018 Panasonic Open India.

 

 

Ajeetesh Sandhu , Panasonic Open India at Delhi Golf Club on November 2, 2017 in New Delhi,

 

Following a 20-month hiatus due to the pandemic, the Tour resumed play in November and December of last year with back-to-back events in Phuket.

 

Chan Shih-chang of Taiwan won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship before Thailand's Phachara Khongwatmai won the Laguna Phuket Championship.

 

The Tour will announce its 2022 itinerary later in January, ahead of the US$5 million Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, which will take place at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club from February 3-6.