Country's top-ranked golfer Jeev Milkha Singh [Images] and defending champion Jyoti Randhawa will spearhead the local challenge while Lu Wen-teh's red hot form makes him the dark horse in the USD 500,000 Hero Honda Indian Open, which kicks off in New Delhi on Thursday.

As part of its preparation for Indian Masters, country's first European Tour event scheduled next year, the hitherto benign DGC has been stretched beyond the 7,000-yard mark, which means sub-par rounds would not be easy to come by.

Three crucial holes have undergone massive changes, including the par-three seventh which was stretched from a modest 182 to a monstrous 230-yard, which puts a premium on precision.

And that makes Jeev a formidable player in a star-studded field featuring 26 Asian Tour winners.

Jeev has built a reputation of thriving in adversity and hostility often brought out the best in him. The best example came in the US Open where he finished tied 36th while the likes of Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen and Henrik Stenson missed the cut as Oakmont bared its fangs.

 Jeev said course management would make a lot of difference.

"Traditionally at DGC, you always have to be very accurate off the tee and now that they have added more length, it would be even more difficult," he told PTI.

Coming off a dream season last year, Jeev would also be fuelled by the urge to do well before home crowd and lift the title that is missing from his cupboard.

Meanwhile, for his friend Randhawa, it's a gilt-edged opportunity to emulate Australian legend and five-time Open champion Peter Thomson, who won the title thrice, in 1964, '66 and '76.

"Well, I'm not sure if it's going to happen this time but I can tell you that I'll do it at some point in my career," a cautious Randhawa said on his prospect of a title treble.

And for sure, Lu Wen-teh would like to see Randhawa achieve the feat some other time.

The 44-year-old golfer from Chinese Taipei is in scintillating form after his twin triumphs this season at the Macau Open and Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Lu has been richly rewarded for his accuracy and patience and he can take heart from the fact that DGC perfectly suits his straight-hitting style of play.

"I will continue to focus on shooting consistent rounds in every tournament. I did not do anything spectacular in both my victories, just played my own game and it paid off," he said, hinting he would stick to his tried and tested formula.

But even that may not prove enough if Thai stalwart Thaworn Wiratchant strikes form.

Winner of nine events on the Asian Tour, an unparallelled feat, the Thai has tasted a win here in 2005 and his triumph at the Midea China Classic this season may have just whetted his appetite for yet another Indian Open title.

Among others, Gaurav Ghei's steady form and his knowledge of the course would stand him in good stead, while big-hitting Thais Chapchai Nirat and Chinarat Phadungsil, along with Singaporean Mardan Mamat, have it in themselves to pull off a win here.