The DP World Tour heads east this week as an extraordinary assembly of global golf titans descends on the subcontinent for the 2026 DP World India Championship. Taking place from October 15–18 at the iconic Delhi Golf Club, this star-studded event features a record-breaking $4 million prize fund – the largest ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India.
With a field boasting reigning Major champions, Ryder Cup heroes, and home-grown local talents, fans are in for a fascinating clash of strategy and nerve on one of golf’s most unique layouts. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this week’s action in New Delhi:
1. Crucial positioning on the back nine
This week’s event serves as the eighth of nine tournaments in the DP World Tour’s “Back 9” phase. As the penultimate stop of the regular season right before next week’s Genesis Championship in South Korea, players are under immense pressure to solidify their ranking. Every stroke counts toward securing a coveted spot in the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs in the UAE (the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship and the DP World Tour Championship).
2. A fresh yet historic heritage
While Delhi Golf Club is legendary; it was originally established in the 1930s and played host to the inaugural Indian Open in 1964, the DP World India Championship itself is in just its second edition. Launched in 2025 as a co-sanctioned event with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), it immediately established itself as a premier global stop.
This week marks a milestone as the first time three reigning Major champions (Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, and Ryan Fox) will tee it up concurrently in a tournament on Indian soil.
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3. Key narratives: Race to Dubai and driver-less strategies
The hunt for No. 1: Rory McIlroy is on a strict mission to reclaim the top spot in the Race to Dubai standings after recently sliding down to third behind Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra.
The strategic puzzle: At just 6,912 yards, Delhi Golf Club provides a unique, tree-lined test where modern long-hitting is neutralized. Last year, 42% of the field left their drivers in the locker room entirely. McIlroy famously pulled his driver and 3-wood from his bag last season, electing to navigate the tight corridors using 2-irons and 3-irons.
4. A star-studded field and pre-tournament favourites
The 132-player field is top-heavy with elite international depth:
The favourites: Tournament favourite Rory McIlroy enters with maximum motivation, alongside defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, who captured the inaugural title here 12 months ago.
Major power: Reigning 2026 Major champions Aaron Rai (PGA Championship) and Ryan Fox (The Open) add formidable firepower, alongside stalwarts like Justin Rose, Patrick Reed, and Shane Lowry.
Local hopes: Local crowds will be fiercely backing Shubhankar Sharma—who just won the PGTI’s Kapil Dev Invitational last week on this layout—and fellow Indian star Anirban Lahiri.
5. Smart betting plays for the subcontinent
The safe bet (Tommy Fleetwood): The course horse. Fleetwood knows exactly how to manipulate his ball flight around these tight corners, as proven by his victory last year. Coming off a strong showing at the Dunhill Links, his accuracy off the tee makes him a baseline target.
The form pivot (Grant Forrest): The Scotsman is riding an immense wave of confidence after holding off a fierce field to win the Open de España in Madrid just last week.
The local sleeper (Shubhankar Sharma): At longer odds, Sharma has more competitive reps on these specific bush-lined fairways than almost anyone else in the field, fresh off his domestic victory a few days ago.
6. The talk from the practice greens
The locker room buzz this week is centred entirely on the defensive nature of the course architecture. Players have been overheard debating target lines on the notoriously narrow fairways. Several prominent European caddies were spotted during Tuesday’s practice rounds mapping out aggressive iron layups to avoid the dense, ball-eating shrubbery flanking the course. The word among the PGTI players is that the local knowledge of when to turn the ball through the heavy morning air will be a massive equalizer against the incoming PGA Tour and European stars.
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Article Link: McIlroy and Fleetwood set to star at DP World India Championship