Manu Gandas is aiming to showcase the improvement he has made in his game since his last DP World Tour appearance on home soil when he tees it up in this week’s Hero Indian Open.
The DP World Tour returns to DLF Golf and Country Club in New Delhi for the first time since 2019, while the 26-year-old last competed at his national open five years ago.
Gandas won six times during a brilliant 2022 season on the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India to top their Order or Merit.
Since earning his playing privileges, a result of a strategic partnership between the DP World Tour, PGA TOUR and the PGTI, Gandas has played in three consecutive events.
The @TheOfficialHIO returns for the first time in four years 🇮🇳#HIO2023 pic.twitter.com/9Yt4ZtwvmF
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 21, 2023
After missing the cut in his first two starts of the 2023 Tour season, Gandas impressed on his way to finishing in a share of 28th place at last week’s Thailand Classic.
“I have been feeling good,” he said. “My game has been progressing bit by bit and I am looking forward to the week.
“I have been working on the shortcomings that I have had for a while and that has borne fruit for me.
“I feel at the end of the day that the increased attention doesn’t change anything because what I can control is my own game. If I keep doing that, I will be happy.”
Gandas is no stranger to this week’s venue, with it being his home course, and is excited by the challenge it will present for the field in the sixth staging of the tournament as a DP World Tour event.
“This is basically my second home,” he added. “I have grown up here and to have a national open over here is a proud thing for us. We hope to have a good week ahead.
“The conditions are impeccable right now. The fairways are pristine, and the greens are rolling quite good so overall it is in great shape.
“For the DP World Tour to have this event back on their schedule will definitely help the sport grow in India and that is a good thing.”
Gandas is among a strong home contingent, which includes two-time event winner S.S.P. Chawrasia and two-time DP World Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma.
Chawrasia, who won the title back-to-back in 2016 and 2017, is hoping to make the most of his winning memories at this week’s venue.
“I’m playing good and to be honest, I’ve played here so many times and I won here, so it’s a positive thing in my mind,” he said.
“The golf course is in fantastic condition and I’m looking forward to the week.”
