Kedar Thapar receiving his “Drive to Major” prize
Kedar Thapar, an amateur golfer from Mumbai, the winner of the “Drive to Major” contest at the MercedesTrophy National Final 2025 held at Oxford Golf Resort, Pune last April, enjoyed the experience of a lifetime this week—teeing it up at Royal Portrush, just a day after World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler lifted the Claret Jug at the 153rd Open Championship.
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Thapar earned this opportunity by winning the Straightest Drive contest during the April India final, securing his place as Mercedes India’s representative at The Open Championship experience. As the official autombile partner of The Open, Mercedes-Benz offers one Indian amateur golfer each year the chance to enjoy this unparalleled golfing experience where they compete with amateur golfers from various Mercedes-Benz tournaments from around the world.
Thapar played the same course setup the pros faced in The Open championship just 24 hours earlier—a surreal moment for any golfer. The guest experience also featured VIP access to watch the world’s best, including Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Scheffler, as well as rounds at other prestigious courses nearby.