Bryson DeChambeau ahead of India debut: "It's a diabolical course"

Bryson DeChambeau joked he will not be able to overpower the DLF Golf and Country Club ahead of his first ever start on Indian soil. 

DeChambeau and his Crushers teammates - Anirban Lahiri, Paul Casey and Charles Howell III - arrived in Gurgaon earlier in the week. 

The group are in the field for the first International Series event of 2025. 

The tournament falls under the banner of the Asian Tour and is the official pathway to LIV Golf, with the order of merit winner earning a spot in the league. 

DeChambeau visited the Taj Mahal before heading to the golf course. 

He told reporters on Wednesday that it is the first time he has ever been in the country and he was blown away by one of the world's seven wonders. 

"I feel like people just respected the place beyond belief," he said.  

"I was fortunate enough to go downstairs and actually see where they're laid to rest. And it was pretty special. 

"Being down there, it felt... I mean, it was serene and blissful. 

"You look at the backdrop and the colours of the sky and the white marble and the intricacies of how the building was built, how the Taj was built. 

"I can tell you it's one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture I've ever seen in my entire life. So, it was amazing. It was a great experience."

The DLF Golf and Country Club is one of the country's finest courses. 

It is also one of the longest and toughest with precision demanded off the tee. 

That clearly won't be too much of an issue for the 31-year-old. 

But he joked: "It's a diabolical course. 

"There's a lot going on and I think the person that's going to do well this week has to see it for what it is, which is a strategic golf course. 

"You have to plot your way around, be very methodical, and you can't overpower it.

"It's not something you can overpower, but you've got to be very technical about here. So, 16 through 18 is a great stretch of golf. It is gettable. 

"If you hit the right shots into it. I feel pretty comfortable with it. Off all the rust, I think I'll give it a good go this week."

DeChambeau is playing his first two rounds here with Chile's Joaquin Niemann and American John Catlin. 

In total, there are 15 LIV players teeing it up. 

The tournament has a $2m prize purse, with the champion being awarded $360,000. 

LIV Golf players in the field in India:

• Harold Varner III
• Sebastian Munoz
• Frederik Kjettrup
• Luis Masaveu
• Cameron Tringale
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Joaquin Niemann
• John Catlin*
• Paul Casey
• Anirban Lahiri
• Ollie Schniederjans*
• Andy Ogletree
• Caleb Surratt
• Carlos Ortiz
• Abraham Ancer

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