The DP World Tour Returns to ‘The Hardest Course on Tour’ for the 2026 Hero Indian Open
About 20 miles south of downtown New Delhi lies the treacherous and daunting DLF Golf and Country Club, the host of this year’s Hero Indian Open. 138 golfers will tee it up at the newly minted brute of a golf course, recently redesigned by golf legend Gary Player. Across numerous social media platforms, the DP World Tour considers DLF Golf and Country Club the most challenging course on its schedule. From geotextile-lined bunkers to hazards galore, DLF G&CC haunts the DP World Tour’s best on a yearly basis.
The Course’s History
Originally opened in 1999, DLF Golf and Country Club boasted an 18-hole parkland course designed by another golfing legend, Arnold Palmer. Around 15,000 trees decorated the course’s layout, forcing both professional golfers and amateurs alike to have a plethora of shots in the bag to score. DLF G&CC hosted India’s second DP World Tour event in 2008, the Johnnie Walker Classic. The tour eventually returned to India and DLF Golf and Country Club for the 2010-2012 Avantha Masters and has hosted an event at DLF G&CC since 2017; the only gap in the course’s hosting history came in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before hosting the 2017 Hero Indian Open, Delhi Land and Finance acquired new land in 2014 and commissioned Player to build a brand new golf course on its newly acquired land. He constructed nine brand new holes on the property and redesigned nine of the existing Palmer-designed holes, expanding DLF G&CC’s total holes from 18 to 27. Player’s Lake and Quarry nine-hole stretches are featured on the DP World Tour’s Hero Indian Open layout, showcasing a jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching masterclass of a design. The course maneuvers around two large lakes and is highlighted by numerous rock formations, dramatically undulated greens and fairways, elevation changes, and futuristically designed bunkers.
What Makes the Course Challenging?
Similar to the courses on the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing, DLF Golf and Country Club is notorious for its relatively low winning scores and volatile nature. There are plenty of holes that can leave even the DP World Tour’s best scratching their heads. In fact, only three golfers at last season’s Hero Indian Open finished under par. Since moving to DLF G&CC, the Hero Indian Open has only seen one winner shoot better than 14-under-par; Keita Nakajima fired a 17-under-par winning score at the 2024 Hero Indian Open. Still, most of the tournament’s winners at DLF G&CC average just over three-under-par per round; for context, most of this season’s DP World Tour winners averaged closer to four-under-par per round.
Per the DP World Tour, “Rarely is field versus course more intriguing than at DLF G&CC.” While a brand’s main goal is to advertise its product, the numbers defend this sentiment. Last season, only the par-five fourth hole and par-four ninth hole played under par, averaging 4.90 and 3.96 shots per hole, respectively. The course spans around 7,416 yards, placing it among the longest courses on the DP World Tour. DLF G&CC’s consistent elevation changes highlight the taxing course layout. Steep bunkers, uphill approach shots, and costly penalties for missed greens present a demanding challenge to every golfer in this year’s Hero Indian Open field.
Golfers With the Best Course Fit
Accuracy, accuracy, and accuracy will be the order of the tournament for any golfer who wants a shot at the Hero Indian Open title. As one gets closer to the green, precision becomes more important. In an era where nearly every golfer can pump their driver 300 yards, increased distance will not necessarily separate anyone from the rest of the pack; DLF Golf and Country Club is not a bomber’s delight. Around the 2015 Hero Women’s Indian Open, Aakash Ohri, the executive director at DLF Home Developers Ltd., shared his thoughts as to why the Gary Player course at DLF G&CC is so challenging. “There are significant elevation changes from tee to green, which will make judging distance a challenge,” Ohri explained. “Greens are large and undulating, giving players a lot to think about while putting. Most importantly, the way the holes are designed will make players strategize their way around the course.”
Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Akshay Bhatia, David Puig, and Angel Ayora are the three favorites heading into the opening round. Bhatia comes into this year’s Hero Indian Open as the highest-ranked player in the field per the Official World Golf Ranking system. He is currently 22nd in the world, but has never logged a competitive round at DLF G&CC. Like Bhatia, Puig has never played DLF G&CC in a competitive setting, but his typically hot putter and a tied-for-sixth finish last weekend at LIV Golf South Africa should serve the Spaniard well in India. Ayora is the only favorite who has competed in the Hero Indian Open. His superb approach game and existing knowledge of DLF G&CC’s course strategy should have him around the top when things are all said and done. Jorge Campillo and Casey Jarvis should also be in the mix thanks to their form and past success at the Hero Indian Open.
DLF Golf and Country Club will require mental fortitude, meticulous preparation, and four rounds of talent and patience. There is no easy portion of the golf course and, while birdies are to be found, they may be negated by a plethora of bogeys, or worse. The beauty of DLF G&CC, combined with its “Come and get me!” nature, should provide a box office viewing experience. Tee times at the Hero Indian Open begin at 6:30 a.m. local time, which is 12.5 hours ahead of the United States’ Pacific Coast.
