McIlroy to Play in India: Golf’s Star in Delhi for Major Event
New Delhi: In a significant development for Indian golf, five-time major champion Rory McIlroy has confirmed his participation in the $4 million DP World India Championship, set to take place at the Delhi Golf Club from October 16-19. This event is expected to be the largest prize money golf tournament in India to date.
The DP World Tour has announced that the event will be co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), and McIlroy’s participation has now been officially confirmed. The European Tour’s decision to include this event in its schedule marks a notable step forward for golf in India.
McIlroy, currently ranked world No.2, is in excellent form, having completed a career major slam in April by winning The Masters. This victory ended his 11-year wait for a fifth major, following his previous wins at the US Open (2011), US PGA Championship (2012 and 2014), and The Open (2014).
“I am excited to not only tee it up in India for the first time but also visit a country that I’ve always wanted to explore,” McIlroy said in a statement. “I’m proud to play in the inaugural DP World India Championship. I’ve always enjoyed playing a global schedule, and as I have previously said, there is tremendous potential to grow golf further in the country. This is a great opportunity and I can’t wait to play in front of Indian golf fans,” the 36-year-old added.
McIlroy’s visit to India follows two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau’s first visit to the country earlier this year for the Asian Tour’s International Series played at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram. The event saw large crowds on all days, indicating growing interest in golf among Indian fans.
The DP World India Championship will be the eighth of nine events on the Back 9 phase of the 2025 Race to Dubai, leading up to the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs that will culminate in the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
The tournament will also mark the European Tour’s return to the Delhi Golf Club for the first time since 2016. The club has been waiting for an international event for two years since its redesign by Gary Player in 2019. Since the course was redesigned, DGC hosted the first two editions of the Asian Tour’s DGC Open (2022 and 2023) but the event has since failed to return.
With McIlroy’s participation, the event is set to attract global attention and provide a platform for Indian golf to gain international recognition. The DP World India Championship is expected to be a major milestone in the growth of golf in India, drawing in fans and players from around the world.