Indian Open golf returns to Delhi Golf Club for 50th anniversary

New Delhi: The golden jubilee 50th edition of the prestigious Hero Indian Open golf tournament with a prize purse of USD 1.25 million will tee off at the scenic Delhi Golf Club (DGC) from November 7 to 10. The choice of venue is apt as the Hero Indian Open returns to the same course where its very first edition took place. Pawan Munjal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, said: “We have arrived at a landmark juncture in the history of Indian golf. The 50th edition of the tournament is testimony to the rich tradition and long lasting value that the event has built. [caption id=“attachment_1112473” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  The Delhi Golf Club will host the 2013 Indian Open. AFP[/caption] “At Hero, it gives us great joy to be associated with this memorable journey. We look forward to celebrating this glorious occasion in Delhi with the entire golf fraternity including members, players and fans. Here’s to some magical golf for posterity and the rise of new golfing talent in this special edition.” Talking about the country’s oldest running international sports competition – the India Open, Sunil Manocha, Chief Operating Officer, Nimbus Sport said: “The golden jubilee edition of the Hero Indian Open is an important step in our journey to develop golf in India through our strategic partnership with the IGU. We are thrilled to promote this historic event with the involvement of all stakeholders.” Gen. Bikram Singh, President, Indian Golf Union said: “It is a momentous occasion for the Indian Open Golf Championship that started it’s journey in the year 1964 at this very venue, to be back again on the same course having traversed fifty long years in the company of some of the most illustrious golfers of their time. “The pace was set by the likes of Peter Thomson who not only won the event three times here but later went on to win the Open Championship five times. I am sure that winning the Indian Open will remain an ambition with many golfers, especially in India, it being one of the most prestigious events on the Asian Tour. “We are extremely grateful to all our stake holders who have ensured the successful conduct of the tournament over the years and especially to the present title sponsors, Hero Moto Corp Ltd, for ensuring the grandeur of this year’s event against the historic setting of the Delhi Golf Club.” Since its inauguration in 1964, the Hero Indian Open has discovered many of the country’s finest talents, including the likes of Arjun Atwal, Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur, Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar. The Hero Indian Open has also attracted a stellar field of international players in the past such as Peter Hanson, James Morrison, Richie Ramsay, Eduardo Molinari, David Gleeson, Paul McGinley, Rikard Karlberg, Daniel Chopra, Mark Brown and Darren Beck. PTI