Course Details

DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi, India
Used since 2017 edition

7,379 yards – Par 72 – Mini Verde Bermuda Greens
Fairways and Rough: Celebration Bermuda overseeded with Ryegrass
Architect: Gary Player (2015)
Location: Mainland India

Important Interview Quotes

Q: When we spoke in Oman, you said the way to win this tournament is to beat Chawrasia – is that still the game plan?
CHRIS WOOD: I mean he wins everywhere in India. I’ve just been told that the cut last year was seven over par, so I sort of thought that if you were around level par you’re probably not going to be too far off, but he ran away with it last year I think.He’s certainly somebody that you want to beat, but I’ve only just got to stand next to him and try to intimidate him a little bit with our height difference. -2018

SHIV KAPUR: To me, this is the most important tournament outside the Majors. Winning their National Open is the highlight of anyone’s career. And, to be able to do it at a city where I grew up, with a title sponsor and golf club that has supported me in my career will be very special.

It’s a tough golf course here, but it’s not unfair. Some of the changes here (compared to last year) has actually made it easier when it comes to decision making. For instance, at the 15th, this year, we won’t be able to aim for the green. We will all be laying up at the same spot. Similarly, at the 17th, lengthening means you can’t aim to hit your ball to the other side of the fairway. Lengthening a golf course doesn’t always make it harder.

I’m going to play more attacking this year, compared to last year. You tend to be defensive when you think that it is a tough golf course. If you attack the golf course, you may get a few bogeys, but you may get some birdies as well. If you play defensively, you hit a bunch of pars and if a big number hits you, it’ll be hard to recover. -2018

Q: What do you think of the course, there have been some changes?
ANIRBAN LAHIRI: The course is in fantastic condition. It’s probably in better condition than it was last year, the greens are in a little bit better condition. They have made some changes on the back nine. It could go either way. If it doesn’t get too windy I don’t think it will make that much of a difference. But if the wind picks up, you might see that length factor come in. Obviously the tenth hole is going to play a little bit harder. The 15th, 16th and 17th have been lengthened. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Overall I think you might see the course play a fraction harder. I think the biggest challenge out here is on the greens. At the end of the day, if you’re out of position, you’re going to struggle. Today when I went out, I think the greens were a little bit softer than last year. The level of softness will help to control the ball a bit better because it’s hard enough as it is. It’s a tough challenge, it’s the same for everyone. I think it’s going to be a good combination of keeping the ball in play and leaving yourself in the right place. Missing it I the wrong place is not going to help you. You have to have an overall strategy ad execute it well. -2018

Q: What do you think the winning score will be?
SSP CHAWRASIA: The winning score, I think will be less than ten under. Five to seven under I would say. [Eventual winning score was 11-under] -2018

Q. Anirban, what is your strategy here?
ANIRBAN LAHIRI: At a demanding golf course like this, a lot of your decision making will be based on two factors. One is the wind, the other is the pin position. You take a hole like number nine. If you put the pin in front, close to the water, there’s no advantage by being aggressive off the tee. But if you put the pin all the way back, even if you miss-hit with your driver, you still have a great chance. Being aggressive without any thought will only land you in trouble. I will pick my battles very carefully. This golf course ,as we’ve seen with SSP, rewards percentage play, so you have to think hard ad you have to be very precise with your strategy. If you are down wind, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the green. If you’re in to the wind you want to be closer. Those two factors, for me, will determine how I go about playing a hole. I might play it defensively one day and aggressively one day. -2018

EMILIANO GRILLO: I almost had to play perfect golf out there. It’s a very difficult golf course. I’m very happy with the way I handled myself out there. It was very tough and I was able to make some good putts and hit the fairways when I needed to.As I say I had to play almost perfect golf. I putted very well. I had, I think, 26 putts and that helps anyone’s round out there. Hopefully I can keep rolling them in. I’ve just got to keep the ball in play, that’s what matters around here.

You have no idea how difficult the course is. I had to play almost perfect golf to shoot a seven under. I think anywhere else it would have been close to a 59 or something. It was definitely a magnificent round of golf. Every tee shot, every second shot, you don’t want to miss it in the wrong place. Your putting, you’re hitting four or five feet right or left of the hole and sometimes you are closer to the hole than you are aiming to the side It’s very hard. -2018

PABLO LARRAZABAL: I love this golf course, there are a few tricky greens but nine birdies is quite unbelievable.

Waking up this morning I didn’t think I was going to make it. Delhi’s traffic is quite tough. I got lucky that we didn’t have traffic.

Shooting under par on this golf course, it’s unbelievable. This morning we’re playing in the easiest conditions we can play but red numbers on this golf course is unbelievable. To start five under is very, very good. -2018

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA: Today’s round will definitely rank up there as one of my most significant achievements, especially when it is played at this course. This is a tough course and it is not easy to go low here. I’m very happy with the way I played. I shot a few low numbers in my career and this one is right in my top five.

I knew the course record is seven-under-par. To hold the record on my home course would be mean a lot to me. That was why, I decided to go for the green. -2018

SHUBHANKAR SHARMA: I kept telling my caddie that this is our home course. You can’t overpower this course. So, I told myself, just hang in there. I will hit a few bad shots and I understand that it’s all part of the game. You just have to stay patient. -2018

Past Previews

2018 Hero Indian Open Preview
2017 Hero Indian Open Preview