New Delhi: Keita Nakajima has regained his top form in golf following a challenging year as the Japanese golfer prepares to defend his title at the $2.25 million Hero Indian Open, which begins on Thursday at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

At just 24 years old, Nakajima celebrated his first victory on the DP World Tour during his debut season, showcasing his skills with an impressive 17-under par score on a challenging course in Gurugram, which had previously posed difficulties for Bryson DeChambeau during the International Series event earlier this year.

“Winning here last year was an incredible experience. It significantly boosted my confidence during my first season, and I was able to compete to the Tour Championship in Dubai. This course is quite challenging. I’m not sure how I managed to win last year, but I plan to remain patient this time around,” Nakajima shared with the media on Tuesday.

Building on his 2024 victory in Gurugram, Nakajima aimed for a spot in the Paris Olympics but faced setbacks, including a T45 finish and subsequent fitness issues that necessitated a break from the sport. “I experienced back pain after the Olympics, which led me to stop playing. I resumed about a month ago (in January), and I want to express my gratitude to my team, family, and agents,” he explained.

He successfully made the cut and achieved modest results in all four of his events during the DP World Tour’s Middle East Swing. However, his second-place finish at last week’s Singapore Classic, where he finished just one shot behind Englishman Richard Mansell, has significantly boosted his confidence. Mansell is also competing this week.

“Last week in Singapore, my performance was excellent… I finished second, but I played well and I feel optimistic heading into this week,” he remarked.

Nakajima has a distinct goal in mind. “I aspire to win this tournament once more and to compete on the PGA Tour next year. Currently, there are five Japanese players on the PGA Tour, which is fantastic for Japan. I also aim to join them on the PGA Tour.”

Marcel Siem, the 2023 Indian Open champion from Germany, is part of the 138-player lineup. SSP Chawrasia, 46, a former champion who won the event in 2016 and 2017, is also competing after receiving a sponsor’s invitation.

Siem has successfully recovered from a hip injury and has resumed playing. “For the past two months, my hip has been pain-free, allowing me to engage in regular activities at the gym,” said Siem, 44, who has claimed six titles on the European Tour. His T9 finish at the Joburg Open in the first week of March was a testament to his consistent play as he worked to regain his rhythm. In 2023, Siem celebrated his first victory on the DP World Tour in nine years, having also won the Italian Open last June.

Gaganjeet Bhullar, 36, from India, is eager to see an Indian player win the Indian Open again. The last victory was by Chawrasia in the inaugural year after the tournament moved to DLF from the Delhi Golf Course. Bhullar's sole win on the DP World Tour occurred in Fiji in 2018, and he has secured 11 titles on the Asian Tour.

“I have yet to achieve an international victory on the major tour in India, which is certainly on my mind. I have performed well at DLF, and I aspire to win this tournament one day.”

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