Indian Golf Championship attracts three 2026 major winners
Rory McIlroy during practice this week – image DP World Tour / Getty Images
Indian golf has likely never seen anything like it. This week’s US$4 million DP World India Championship contains three of this year’s four major championship winners, 13 major winners overall, and the leading seven players in the Race to Dubai rankings, making it the strongest field ever seen in the country.
The Delhi Golf Club in the country’s capital, New Delhi, is 96 years old and has played host to countless Indian golf events over a long period. Redesigned by three-time Indian Open winner, Peter Thomson in 1967, the layout is protected by significant tea tree growth and is considered a very much a placement golf course.
Rory McIlroy, Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai are the three 2026 major winners in the field but the current leader on the race to Dubai Order of Merit, Patrick Reed will be doing his best to hold off McIlroy over the next few weeks as the 2026 season comes to an end in Dubai in mid-November.
McIlroy played her last year and finished back in 26th place but arrived in Delhi full of confidence for what lies ahead.
“It’s looking good. Just as tight as I remember from last year,” said the Northern Irishman. “It’s definitely a different golf course than what we’re used to playing. It doesn’t offer you a lot of room off the tee. A lot of irons and strategic play with your tee shots.
“It’s great to be back. I had a wonderful experience here last year, and I come here now as a DP World ambassador. Deepened my relationship, obviously, with the company that puts on this event which is also the umbrella sponsor of the DP World Tour.
“Obviously very happy to be back and representing them. Looking forward to a great week.”
Fox, who is playing the event for the first occasion, feels it will require very different strategies this week to do well.
“It’s been great,” said the Open Champion. “We’ve been looked at fantastically well so far, and been enjoying the food, enjoying the golf course. It’s something I feel a bit different. I don’t have a driver in the bag this week, like a fair chunk of guys don’t.
“It’s a placement, control-your-ball-style golf course. Yeah, it’s been fun the last couple days and obviously looking forward to the week.”
Fox is currently in 6th place in the Race to Dubai rankings but has not given up hope of winning the title in Dubai in three week’s time. He is entered for the events in Korea, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Other Australians and New Zealanders in the field are Min Woo Lee, Daniel Hillier, Jason Scrivener, Elvis Smylie, Anthony Quayle and Ryan Peake,
