World No. 2 Rory McIlroy has confirmed his participation in Delhi this October
A defining moment for Indian golf fans has arrived – Rory McIlroy, one of the biggest global names in Golf, is headed to India.
The five-time Major winner and reigning Masters champion has confirmed that he will tee it up at the inaugural US$4 million DP World India Championship, to be played at Delhi Golf Club (DGC) from October 16–19. It will mark the first time a reigning Masters champion has played in India. Prior to this, 2000 Masters champion, Indo-Fijian Vijay Singh, had played in the 2002 and 2004 BILT Skins at the DLF Golf and Country Club, but he was not the reigning champion at the time.
The $4 million prize purse makes it the richest professional golf tournament ever held in India and part of the final “Back 9” stretch of the 2025 Race to Dubai season heading into the season finale.
Speaking ahead of the announcement, McIlroy said: “I’m 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. I’ve always enjoyed playing a global schedule, and 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.”
McIlroy had hinted at his interest in coming to India as early as January this year during the Dubai Desert Classic. Referring to the buzz around Bryson DeChambeau’s appearance at the International Series India in Gurgaon—where Bryson drew throngs of spectators and finished runner-up—McIlroy said India was “a very important market for golf” and confirmed he had been tracking developments closely.
When Tiger Woods played an 18-hole exhibition at Delhi Golf Club in 2014, only around 2,000 fans showed up. With Rory now confirmed, expectations for the October event are sky-high, and organisers are bracing for record turnouts once tickets go live.
For DP World, the vision extends beyond tournament logistics—the company is actively investing in sport and infrastructure in India. Their portfolio includes IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, grassroots projects like the Second Life Container initiative and Balls for Birdies, which collect and donate recycled golf balls to support the game’s accessibility and growth.
As for the venue, Delhi Golf Club’s Lodhi Course has hosted some storied events over the years—from the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters in 2008 to multiple editions of the Hero Indian Open—but never anything quite at this scale. With McIlroy now locked in and a star-studded field expected to follow, October promises to be a landmark month for Indian golf.
Fans looking to attend can now sign up for ticket updates and early access at bit.ly/DPWIC-RYI.