TheIndian Open, titled for sponsorship reasons as theHero Indian Open since 2011, is the nationalopengolf championship ofIndia, organised by theIndian Golf Union. Founded in 1964, it was added to theAsia Golf Circuit schedule in 1970. In 1998 it became an event on the rival Omega Tour (known as theAsian Tour since 2004). Since 2015, it has also been co-sanctioned by theEuropean Tour.
The inaugural event was held in February 1964.Peter Thomson beatRalph Moffitt by four strokes.[1] Thomson was the inspiration behind the event. He used to stop off in India while travelling worldwide to play and soon realised the potential for golf and that the best way to promote it would be an international tournament. It was this insight that persuaded the Indian Golf Union to establish the Indian Open.[citation needed] Thompson continued to play in the event and won again in 1966 and 1976. His three wins was equalled byJyoti Randhawa in 2007.
The second event in 1965 was won by Indian amateurPrem Gopal (Billoo) Sethi, who beatGuy Wolstenholme by seven strokes.[2] Sethi still remains the only amateur winner. It was not until 1991, when Ali Sher became champion, that India had another winner.
In 1970 the Indian Open became part of theAsia Golf Circuit;[3] it had been an "associate event" on the circuit in 1967 and 1968.[4][5] As a result of joining the tour, the field increased in strength with notable winners including three-time major championPayne Stewart.
There have been a number of sponsors over the years, with Hero Honda Motors Ltd taking over sponsorship in 2005. The prize fund for 2017 was US$1.75 million.
No events took place in 2020, 2021 and 2022 because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.
^Wallace won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^Lahiri won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^Wiratchant won with a bogey on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^Muniyappa won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^Randhawa won with a birdie on second hole of a sudden-death playoff; Kumar was eliminated on the first extra hole.
^Randhawa won with a par on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^Takahashi won with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff; all three players made par on the first extra hole.
^Ball won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^abcBetween 1967 and 1969 the event was sanctioned by the Asia Golf Circuit, however it was an unofficial money event; therefore the win is considered unofficial on that tour.
^Hosoishi won on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
^"Seven events in F-E circuit".The Straits Times. Singapore. Reuter. 10 April 1967. p. 17.Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved12 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
^Boey, Francis (29 December 1967)."Club members pay for Fisher's trip".The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 18.Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"World at a glance | Golf".New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 1 April 1997. p. 20.Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via Google News Archive.
^"Rutledge a winner in India".Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. 6 March 1995. p. 11.Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Aubrey's Indian Open title".The Straits Times. Singapore. 7 March 1994. p. 30.Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Sport summary | Golf".The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 9 March 1993. p. 46.Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Grimes bags Indian title".The Straits Times. Singapore. 25 March 1985. p. 23.Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved22 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Junichi clinches crown".The Straits Times. Singapore. 4 April 1983. p. 38.Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved18 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Hsu triumphs in Indian Open".The Straits Times. Singapore. 22 March 1982. p. 37.Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Thomson 4th to Gaylord".The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 27 March 1979. p. 44.Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Brask charges in".The Straits Times. Singapore. 6 March 1978. p. Page 24.Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved16 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Title to Jones".The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 April 1977. p. 27.Archived from the original on 19 September 2021. Retrieved16 March 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Thomson's open".The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 5 April 1976. p. 16.Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved3 March 2020 – via Google News Archive.
^"Brian Jones wins".The Glasgow Herald. Glasgow, Scotland. 20 March 1972. p. 5.Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via Google News Archive.
^"Marsh wins".The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 March 1971. p. 14.Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Stanton 8th in US golf".The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 March 1970. p. 21.Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Hosoishi snatches Open from Peach".The Straits Times. Singapore. 16 April 1968. p. 21.Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Hosoishi triumphs".The Straits Times. Singapore. 18 April 1967. p. 18.Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via National Library Board.
^"Thomson back from East".The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 26 April 1966. p. 24.Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved7 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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Keita Nakajima
