Kapur Can Be Indian Hero In Delhi

Recent Malaysian Open winner Anirban Lahiri heads the betting at 13/2 for the Hero Indian Open which gets underway on Thursday but who holds the best value in a wide open field?

The Tournament
After last week’s stop in Thailand, the European Tour heads west for the Indian Open, an event that dates back to 1964, and has been part of the Asian Tour for a decade. It wasn’t held last year, but returns as a $1.5m event co-sanctioned by the European Tour for the first time. Five Indian players have won the tournament since 1998 and this year, home golfers make up a quarter of the field, with two Indians prominent in the antepost market.

The Course
Delhi Golf Club has been the main host for most of the tournament’s history. It isn’t a long course by European Tour standards, although the par-five fourteenth has become a par-four this year, which will make it a little tougher. The undulating greens can be tricky, but the main challenge is in finding the fairways, which are very narrow and lined with thick bushes. Accuracy from the tee is the key to success at this venue.

In The Bunker
After breaking into the world top fifty with his victory at the Malaysian Open, Anirban Lahiri, who tied for second in the Indian Open last time it was held, is the clear antepost favourite, but I think he can be opposed. He finished outside the top twenty in Thailand last week after four uneven rounds in which his driving was a little wayward. Similar inaccuracy could cost him in Delhi and at 13/2 I think there are better value bets elsewhere in the field.

Recommended Bets

If you’re looking for a local player to side with this week, then Shiv Kapur could be a better bet than his compatriot Lahiri. After a slow start to the year, he announced himself with an opening round 66 in Thailand and finished strongly with a 68.

A poor second round cost him a top ten place, but he was pretty accurate off the tee throughout and I think he’s hitting form at the right time. Back him at 20/1 to triumph on his home soil.

Two of this season’s European Tour events have already gone to Qualifying School graduates and Adrian Otaegui is a decent bet to make it three in India. Like Shiv Kapur, he enjoyed his best return of the season to date in Thailand, where he finished twenty-fifth but ranked highly for both Greens in Regulation and Driving Accuracy. That kind of consistent accuracy is likely to be rewarded in Delhi and at 66/1 he has an excellent outside chance.

The final name to add to your shortlist is Javier Colomo. Last season he earned his first professional win and though hardly a household name, is probably playing the best golf of his career at the moment. He cracked the top twenty in Thailand, thanks to a superb third round of 65 and is worth a look each way at big odds.