Major champ Harrington star attraction at Hero Indian Open

Three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington will be the cynosure of all eyes when the 52nd Hero Indian Open returns with Anirban Lahiri looking to defend his title in one of the strongest-ever fields at the prestigious Delhi Golf course next month.

The 44-year-old Irish, who won The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008, will be competing against a strong field of players from Europe and Asia when the national open is held from March 17 to 20.

Besides former champions like Siddikur Rahman (Bangladesh), Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand) and Mardan Mamat (Singapore), the Indian field will include Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, SSP Chawrasia, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Rashid Khan, Rahil Gangjee, Himmat Rai and Chiragh Kumar.

Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour for the second straight year, the prestigious event will carry an enhanced prize purse of USD 1.66 million.

“I am really looking forward to play at the Indian Open. It is starting on St Patricks Day. I played in India as an amateur in the early 1990s and it would be great to be back in India and see all the changes,” said Harrington, who will be defending his title at the Honda Classic at Palm Beach, US from February 25 to 28.