Indian Open 2026 Set to Feature Top Golf Talent
Overview of the Indian Open 2026
The Indian Open 2026 is scheduled to take place from March 26 to 29 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram. This prestigious event will showcase five players from the world's Top-100 rankings and an additional eight ranked between 101 and 150. A press release highlighted that the inclusion of 13 players from the top 150 makes this edition a standout on the DP World Tour calendar, with a record prize purse of USD 2.55 million.
Star-Studded International Field
Leading the impressive lineup are Akshay Bhatia, a recent winner on the PGA Tour, and Major champion Francesco Molinari, alongside several top Indian golfers. The five players ranked in the Top-100 include Bhatia (22), Casey Jarvis (69), Elvis Smylie (74), David Puig (85), and Thriston Lawrence (89).
Key Players: Bhatia and Molinari
Bhatia, a three-time PGA Tour winner and Hero MotoCorp Brand Ambassador, recently triumphed at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, defeating elite competitors like World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy. Francesco Molinari, the 2018 Open champion and a three-time member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team, adds significant star power to the event.
Strong Contingent from India
The international stars will face stiff competition from Indian golfers, led by Shubhankar Sharma, a two-time DP World Tour champion. Other notable participants include Yuvraj Sandhu, Manu Gandas, Om Prakash Chouhan, and Veer Ahlawat, who was the runner-up at the Hero Indian Open in 2024. Rising talents Kartik Singh (16) and Shubham Jaglan (21) have also received sponsor invitations.
Recent Winners and Current Form
Several players are in excellent form, with six of them, including Jarvis and Bradbury, having secured victories in the ongoing 2026 season. Jarvis notably won both the Investec South African Open and the Magical Kenya Open in consecutive weeks. Additionally, seven players won tournaments in 2025, and a dozen were successful in 2024, making this field one of the most accomplished in recent memory.
Intense Competition for Race to Dubai Points
With the cut-off for retaining a full card in the Race to Dubai rankings now set at the Top 100, the competition for points and Tour cards is expected to be fierce. Players will be vying for both monetary rewards and crucial points during the tournament.