With Indians winning abroad more than ever, they pose the biggest threat to challengers from Asia and Europe.
In 2014, Indians golfers Rashid Khan and SSP Chowrasia won two titles at home, while Anirban Lahiri (2), Rashid Khan and Arjun Atwal clinched crowns outside the country.
In fact, a lot of Indians have tasted success at Asian and European Tour events at the Delhi Golf Club. While Jyoti Randhawa won two of his three Indian Opens at DGC besides two Hero Masters events, Chowrasia has won one co-sanctioned and one Asian Tour event at this venue.
Since 1998, when Feroze Ali became only the second Indian professional after Ali Sher (1991 and 1993) to win the Indian Open, Indians have won no less than seven times in the next 16 editions.
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Shiv Kapur, who has twice finished in Top-4 at the Indian Open says, "The Hero Indian Open is undoubtedly the biggest event for any Indian and for me to win it will bring me three times as much joy - it is the National Open, it is my sponsor's event and it is also being hosted at my home club DGC where I grew up playing. So it means a lot to me."
Jeev has won 20 times around the world and Bhullar has won five times in Asia, but neither has an Asian or European Tour win at the DGC.
"I have come so close to winning the Indian Open so many times. I have won the National Open of many other countries like Scotland, Singapore, China and Austria, but it is the Indian Open I want most," said Jeev.