If you don’t remember Marcel Siem by name, perhaps you might recall him for something else. Specifically, his hair and the distinguishing bun that the 42-year German styles it in. It’s the look he carried through much of his 20-plus-year DP World Tour career that saw him compete in more than 500 events but seemed to have flamed out last year when the four-time winner lost his card.
Siem wasn’t ready to give things up, however, returning to Qualifying School last December and earning back his playing privileges. In six starts prior to this week’s Hero Indian Open during the 2023 season, he had made six cuts, with five top-20 finishes that hinted a comeback win could be in the offing.
And then it came on Sunday, where the grit and grind paid off when he shot a closing four-under 68 DLF Golf & Country Club in New Delhi to pass countryman Yannick Paul and win for the first time on the DP World Tour since his victory at the 2014 BMW Masters, some eight years and 116 days earlier.
“This means a lot because two years ago I wasn’t even sure if I could still compete … and now I’m a winner again, come on,” he said.
The adreneline was flowing throughout the round, as Siem, ranked 337th in the Official World Golf Ranking after once being 48th, took a share of the lead after making a 20-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole. Back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th gave him two-shot lead but Siem lost it with a bogey on the 13th and a Paul birdie on the same hole. He wrestled the lead back with 15-foot birdie on the 15th hole, then let three closing pars be enough to claim the victory.
Suffice it to say, winning again after such a long break was truly emotional, with the DP World Tour social team putting together this nice collage of the final moment showcasing Siem’s return to glory.
Pardon the pun, but hats visors off to Siem.