MCILROY SEEKS MORE HISTORY AS FLEETWOOD DEFENDS IN INDIA
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy is hoping to make his mark at this week’s DP World India Championship. (Photo: Getty/DP World Tour)
Tournament Preview
Rory McIlroy is determined to do everything he can to stay at the top of the golfing world for the next 10 years as he aims to make more history on the DP World Tour by claiming the DP World India Championship as part of his bid to win a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.
The Northern Irishman is very much living in the present as he seeks a first DP World Tour title on the subcontinent. But at just 37, he could still have many of his best years ahead of him, and is taking inspiration from Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose and tennis star Novak Djokovic, who utilise a performance truck to keep them physically at their best.
McIlroy has this week become a global ambassador for DP World, who will take his personalised fitness and recovery environment from tournament to tournament on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, and the two-time reigning Masters champion is hopeful that will help him keep competing for years to come.
The six-time Major winner is part of a stellar field at Delhi Golf Club, in the event co-sanctioned with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood is eager to keep hold of the Lotus Trophy, as the former Race to Dubai and FedExCup champion seeks a ninth DP World Tour win.
The Englishman is once again joined by his family in India as he aims to draw on the positive memories from 12 months ago and replicate the celebratory scenes on the 18th green with son Frankie.
There are 22 players who have won on the 2026 Race to Dubai in the field, including two who claimed their maiden Major titles – US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai and Champion Golfer of the Year Ryan Fox.
Rai has strong ties to India on both sides of his family, and is married to leading Indian player Gaurika Bishnoi Rai, while for Fox, it’s his first visit to the country as he continues to enjoy the afterglow of lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale.
Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed is also teeing it up as he aims to fight off the challenge of McIlroy and Eugenio Chacarra - with the top three int the field this week – as he aims to be lift the Harry Vardon trophy for the first time.
There is a sizeable home-grown contingent set to vie for the title alongside further international stars including Major winners Shane Lowry and Justin Rose and European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald.
With the PGTI’s season set to conclude this week with the final event of the Race to DP World India Championship, the Order of Merit winner will be crowned on Sunday and will receive a DP World Tour card for 2027. Saptak Talwar has been in top spot for much of the season and enjoys a commanding lead, but he could still be overtaken in the top spot by Khalin H Joshi and Veer Ahlawat, with all three teeing it up this week.
DP World Tour winners Anirban Lahiri and Shubhankar Sharma – who won the Vishwa Samudra presents Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship on the PGTI last week – are also part of the 27-strong group of players aiming for home glory.
Player quotes
Rory McIlroy: It's looking good. Just as tight as I remember from last year. 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 but 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.
I already have my performance trailer in the U.S. The idea came from Justin Rose, who has something similar with the recovery unit that he has in the U.S. Novak Djokovic has the same thing.
The idea came from them. I decided to pull the trigger on it when Justin won in Memphis last year. He's 45 years old, playing great, contending in major championships, and I was -- at that time I was 36. I was like, I want to play really well for the next ten years; I feel like I need to do something like this.
Tommy Fleetwood: It's lovely coming back. It's always really nice coming back when you've had a great tournament the year before at that venue. Yeah winning a tournament with so many beautiful memories, that is lovely.
I think this tournament last year came at a time when I was playing amazing golf. Probably some of the best of my career. I think when I do look back, when I come here I think I'm always going to be grateful for the moments that I got with Frankie there on the 18th green.
I came back to India after a few years, and just the way the crowds were and the people were and the support that we got, just all the uniqueness that went with this tournament.
So, yeah, a lot of great roots here and feelings and it's really nice to come back.
Aaron Rai: Yesterday was the first time that I had seen the course. Watched it a little bit on TV over the years.
I think it was even better in person. Extremely narrow, very strategic. Extremely well designed. A lot of angles. Absolutely privilege to play. I definitely need a couple of more rounds to play a little bit more. One round certainly isn't enough. Hopefully I can do that before Thursday starts.
And on a personal note. Obviously fantastic to be in India. I really enjoy coming back here for golf, for family. So, yeah, it's a privilege to be able to put the golf and family and being in India all together in one week.
Shubhankar Sharma: Very excited to be back. Delhi Golf Club is very iconic for a number of reasons. Personally for me, I grew up not in Delhi, but I played so many junior events here. And also watched so many DP World Tour, at that time it was the European Tour, so many events that were conducted here. So guys like Ernie Els come and play.
I always wanted to play a big event here and have the chance to win on the 18th hole. Just to have that chance every year coming back is very special. Last year the second round was incredible for me. I was getting the momentum I needed. Third, fourth day wasn't the best.
That was definitely the highlight and I just want to remember that feeling of the second day. Four days of that should take care of everything.