McIlroy commits to India Championship in October
Grand slam winner Rory McIlroy will play in India for the first time in October.
The world number two, who said in Dubai in January that “the Indian market is a very important market for golf”, has confirmed he will play in the $4 million DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club from October 16-19.
Global smart logistics provider DP World and the DP World Tour launched the DP World India Championship this season.
Co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the $4 million tournament features the largest prize fund ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India.
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’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.”
McIlroy was keen to see Bryson DeChambeau’s appearance in India at the end of January, when huge crowds turned up at DLF Country Club to watch him play the Asian Tour’s International Series India event, where he finished second to compatriot Ollie Schnierjans.
The event attracted 15,000 fans, which was a record for Indian golf, outstripping the 2,000 that turned up to watch Tiger Woods play an 18-hole exhibition at Delhi Golf Club in 2014.
“Yeah, look, I sat here last year and said that the Indian market is a very important market for golf,” McIlroy said at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this year.
“You look at what's happening next week with the International Series, you've got Bryson and a lot of those guys going over to play.
“India is a country I've always wanted to visit. I've never been there before obviously I know that there's discussions ongoing about an event that may be played later in the year.
“But I know that they are at a delicate stage. So I don't want to put the cart before the horse and say anything that I shouldn't.
“Obviously I'm hopeful that things go the right way and that I have maybe an opportunity to be there.
“But I think to say anything else at this point would be a little premature. But certainly would obviously love to go to India one day and play there, whether that's this year or sometime down the line. But it's certainly something that I want to do.”
The DP World India Championship underscores India’s growing influence as a destination for elite golf and as a strategic market for DP World.
The announcement follows the success of the 2025 Hero Indian Open, won by Eugenio Chacarra, and further boosts the Tour’s momentum in the region.
Yuvraj Narayan, Group Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, DP World said: “We are delighted to welcome Rory McIlroy to the DP World India Championship.
“Having a player of his calibre underscores the commitment both we and the DP World Tour have to the success of this tournament.
“India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, and DP World is committed to partnering India’s growth story with best-in-class infrastructure, expertise in global trade, and now, world-class sport.
“By bringing back the DP World Tour to India with the inaugural DP World India Championship, we are showcasing Delhi on the global sporting stage and creating a platform to inspire the next generation of talent.
“Rory will capture global attention, increase participation and position India as a premier destination for golf.
“Our mission to support the growth of golf from the grassroots remains central to our global golf vision, and hosting a global icon like Rory in India is a proud milestone in that journey.”
The DP World India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the ‘Back 9’ phase of the 2025 Race to Dubai, building towards the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs and culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
