Star Golfers Set to Compete in 2026 DP World India Championship
Exciting Lineup for the 2026 India Championship
Patrick Reed, the Masters Champion and current leader of the Race to Dubai, along with fellow Augusta National winner Bubba Watson, have confirmed their participation in the upcoming 2026 India Championship. This prestigious event is scheduled to take place at the Delhi Golf Club from October 15 to October 18.
The tournament will feature a stellar lineup of global golf stars, including defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy, and the 2026 Open Champion Ryan Fox. Other notable participants include major winners Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald, and Ryder star Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Min Woo Lee, a winner on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, will make his debut. Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri are also set to compete, aiming to impress the home crowd.
Masters Champions Anticipate Their Delhi Debut
Reed, who secured his first Major title at Augusta National in 2018, is eager to lead the Race to Dubai Rankings for the first time. He aims to achieve his third victory of the season, having already won the Rolex Series title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January and the Qatar Masters shortly after.
Expressing his excitement, Reed stated, "I really enjoy playing all over the world and I'm looking forward to teeing it up in the DP World India Championship for the first time. It looks like a great event and field, and it comes at an important time in the season, so I'm excited to see what we can do in Delhi." Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters winner, will also make his debut at the Delhi Golf Club this October. He remarked, "It's always fun to play in new events and this is one that I was happy to be able to add to my schedule. I've heard that Delhi Golf Club is a great test, and golf fans in India are very passionate, so I'm looking forward to the week."
DP World Enhances the Championship's Prestige
The DP World India Championship, launched in 2025 by global logistics provider DP World and the DP World Tour, boasts a prize fund of USD 4,000,000, the largest ever for a DP World Tour event in India. This tournament is co-sanctioned with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India and is a key part of the Race to Dubai's Back 9 phase.
Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager for DP World in the Subcontinent, commented, "Patrick and Bubba are two of the biggest names in golf, and their tournament debuts at the DP World India Championship further strengthen an already world-class field. India is a key strategic market for DP World, both for our business and for our commitment to building professional golf in the country. To attract players of this calibre in just the second year reflects the ambition we have for this tournament and for the game in India."
India's Growing Influence in Golf
The second edition of the DP World India Championship highlights India's rising status as a premier destination for elite golf and a strategic market for DP World. This new tournament builds on the success of the long-established Hero Indian Open and enhances the Tour's presence in the region.
As the title partner since 2022 and following its recent partnership with the PGTI, the tournament aligns with DP World's broader sporting initiatives in India, which include collaborations with the Delhi Capitals and grassroots programs like the Second Life Container initiative and 'Balls for Birdies' campaign, aimed at promoting golf accessibility.
A Significant Event in the Race to Dubai
The DP World India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai, leading up to the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs and culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.