Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard will make their Hero Indian Open debuts when the tournament returns to the DP World Tour International Schedule from February 23-26, 2023.
DLF Golf & Country Club will host the Hero Indian Open later this month for the first time since 2019, following a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and some of Europe’s hottest talents will be teeing it up in Gurugram.
MacIntyre will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of countryman Stephen Gallacher, who will defend the title he won in 2019 later this month, when he makes his maiden appearance in India.
The Scot, a two-time DP World Tour winner, formed part of the Great Britain and Ireland team at the Hero Cup earlier this year and is excited to visit India for the first time in his young career as he aims to accumulate enough points to earn a maiden Ryder Cup appearance later this year.
“As soon as I heard the Hero Indian Open was back on the schedule it was one I immediately earmarked to play,” the 26-year-old said.
“I have watched previous events on television and the course looks absolutely stunning. I think it could be one that suits my game, having spoke to Stevie about it as well, so I’m really looking forward to heading over there later this month.
“Any event with Dr Munjal’s name attributed to it is always top class. I thought both the Hero Cup and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year were great events and I’m sure the Hero Indian Open will be no different.”
MacIntyre will be joined on the Gary Player layout by Højgaard, who has two DP World Tour wins to his name, and who also holds aspirations of securing a spot at Marco Simone later this year.
Højgaard, who won 3.5 points as Continental Europe won the Hero Cup last month, already has top ten finishes at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the 2023 season and is looking to build on his solid start at the Hero Indian Open.
“I am pleased with my start to the year and hopefully I’ll be able to continue where I left off in Delhi,” he said.
“I’ve never been to India before so I’m really looking forward to experiencing something new. Dr Munjal and Hero always look after us incredibly well in any event they’re involved with so I am looking forward to another great tournament.
“This is a big year for all Europeans as we aim for a spot on the Ryder Cup team and I am no different. I would love to tee it up in a Ryder Cup – ideally along with my brother – and that is my main goal for the year, but I know it is a by-product of playing good, consistent golf.”
Joining the duo of Ryder Cup hopefuls in India will be fellow Hero Cup players Guido Migliozzi and France’s Victor Perez, who secured his maiden Rolex Series title in Abu Dhabi last month.
Leading the home charge in Gurugram will be Shubhankar Sharma, a two-time DP World Tour winner, Manu Gandas who won the 2022 PGTI Order of Merit title having posted a record six wins during the season and two-time Hero Indian Open Champion S.S.P. Chawrasia.
The Hero Indian Open will celebrate its 56th edition in 2023, extending Hero MotoCorp’s long-term relationship with the European Tour group which began at the 2015 staging of the event. Since then, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, has also supported the Hero Challenge, a series of fast-paced showpiece events and short form social and digital content, which have taken golf to new audiences, as well as the Hero Open which has featured on the DP World Tour schedule since 2020.
Hero, and its Chairman and CEO Dr Pawan Munjal, will sponsor three events on the 2023 DP World Tour, adding this year’s newly-formed match play contest the Hero Cup, and their maiden involvement in Rolex Series at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, to the Hero Indian Open.
