Nakajima’s Focus on DP World Tour Pays Off with Win at Hero Indian Open
Nakajima, a Japanese golfer, made the strategic decision to focus on the DP World Tour instead of the American circuit. On Sunday, his decision paid off when he won the Hero Indian Open with a closing round of 1-over 73. Nakajima started the final round at DLF Golf and Country Club with a two-shot lead and made four birdies in the opening eight holes, extending his lead to nine shots. Despite shooting a 40 on the back nine, he still won by four strokes, securing his first European tour title.
In an interview after his victory, Nakajima expressed his confidence and stated that he hoped to turn this win into more victories in the future. With 87 weeks as the World Amateur Golf Ranking No. 1, Nakajima has won four times in the last 10 months, with the others coming on the Japan Golf Tour last year. His success in Japan earned him a European tour card and status on the Korn Ferry Tour, which feeds the PGA Tour. This victory moved him to No. 13 in the Race to Dubai and No. 9 among those without PGA Tour status.
Nakajima’s quick start in the final round prevented any challengers from catching up to him. Veer Ahlawat of India, Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden, and Johannes Veerman of the United States tied for second place. Despite some struggles on the back nine, including three consecutive bogeys to finish the round, Nakajima secured
