The HotelPlanner Tour remains in India this week, for the second of back-to-back co-sanctioned events with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Delhi Challenge at Classic Golf & Country Club…
Jack’s design
The signature Championship course at Classic Golf & Country Club was designed by 18-time Major winner Jack Nicklaus, and it’s his 18-hole design that will test the players this week. On the front nine, accuracy is key, with water running the entire length of the fairway on two holes, and each of the par threes being shorter but with undulating greens. Longer hitters could have more success on the back nine, with the par three 11th hole measuring close to 225 yards off the back tees. The facility is one of the finest in India and actually houses 27 holes, all designed by Nicklaus himself.
A good omen
Last year in the Delhi Challenge, Englishman John Parry returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in 14 years with a one stroke victory on a dramatic final day. Parry fired a sensational seven under par round of 65 on the final day – which included a run of four consecutive birdies on the back nine – to come out on top. That result in Gurugram proved to be the catalyst for a remarkable 12 months for the 38-year-old. Since then, Parry has won three more times – twice on the HotelPlanner Tour and once on the DP World Tour – to climb inside the top 100 on the Official Golf World Rankings. Could someone follow in his footsteps this year?
Taking shape
Through five events of the 29-event schedule, the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings are beginning to take shape. The leading 20 players at the end of the year will secure one of the life-changing DP World Tour cards on offer, and with the top two players in the Rankings – Daniel van Tonder and Wilco Nienaber from South Africa – not playing this week, there’s an opportunity for the chasing pack to close the gap. Englishman Jamie Rutherford is third in the Rankings after winning the Cell C Cape Town Open in association with Honor, and is their nearest challenger, with fellow in-form players, such as last week’s Kolkata Challenge winner, Joshua Berry, and 25-year-old Austrian, Maximilian Steinlechner, also in the field.
