Rory McIlroy explains why he played in India after PGA Tour player Kevin Kisner accused him of chasing a reported $10 million appearance fee

Rory Mcllroy (Image via Getty Images) Rory McIlroy traveled to New Delhi for the inaugural DP World India Championship, a $4 million event designed to bring golf to a big new audience. But his appearance also drew blunt accusations from fellow PGA Tour member Kevin Kisner, who suggested McIlroy was there primarily for the $10 million appearance fee. McIlroy has now responded to the criticism, defending both the financial realities of professional golf and his interest in developing the game in India.

McIlroy’s performance in India drew criticism from Kisner

McIlroy made his first appearance in India at the DP World India Championship, held at the Delhi Golf Club from 16 to 19 October 2026. Severoir was among a strong field that included Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Patrick Reed, with the event offering $4 million.His involvement comes shortly after he signed a multi-year deal to become the global golf ambassador for DP World, the United Arab Emirates logistics company that became the main sponsor of the European Tour in November 2021. McIlroy announced the partnership: “That’s why I’m proud to announce that I’m joining DP World as a global golf ambassador. logistics.”McIlroy talked about golf entering new markets, but Kisner doubted whether that was the real motivation for the trip. Talk to Fore Play Podcastthe four-time PGA Tour winner, now NBC’s chief golf analyst, said McIlroy is reportedly being paid $10 million to compete.“That’s kind of a dog*** comment, but I think at the right price we could all say that,” Kisner said. “He doesn’t want to expand globally in India; he wants to get his $10 million and go play in India.”Kisner also questioned the placement of the tournament and McIlroy’s decision to leave his driver out of his gear for a week.“I know there’s a bunch of guys who got paid for that event. How else would you have that event in India with eight billion people in the middle of a city?” he said. “And Rory won’t even hit a driver this week. You think he wants to go play a tournament where he can’t use his #1 weapon? So give me a break.”He went further to suggest that players are expected to submit prepared comments about golf’s international expansion.“They always seem to say the right things when they’re there,” Kisner said. “As part of your speaking fee, ‘Here’s your altruism script and you have to mention these four lines in any conversation you do during the week,’ which is totally fine, I would do that too, and all of us on this podcast would.”Kisner added that he found it “very strange” that players were traveling to India to a course where McIlroy could not use his driver rather than play what he described as “the sickest course in the world”.

McIlroy says financial and sporting reasons can coexist

McIlroy said he had not seen Kisner’s comments when reporters asked him about them in New Delhi and questioned why his participation had prompted such a reaction.“I didn’t see it. I don’t know why being in India would make Kis comment,” McIlroy said.He did not deny that players could receive performance fees, but rejected the idea that the payment necessarily undermined their wider reasons for racing.“Two things can be true at the same time,” McIlroy said. “People can get paid to come and play in a tournament, but they’re doing it from a place where there’s a real interest in bringing the sport to another country, a developing country, a country where the middle class in India is bigger than the entire population of the United States. It’s a huge market for golf.”McIlroy has long been one of golf’s most prominent international figures and will compete in the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Dubai and India during 2026. His trip to New Delhi also made him one of the main players promoting a tournament designed to expand the reach of the sport.

A promising start was followed by a disappointing end

McIlroy’s week did not produce the result he wanted. He started with an eagle and also made an impressive bunker-shot eagle on the 14th, but lost ground during the third round after a couple of bogeys and a double bogey left him well behind the leaders.He finished tied for 42nd at 4-under par after closing with a two-over 74 to finish 17 shots behind winner Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra. The Spaniard finished on 21 under to win by two shots and move ahead of Patrick Reed at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.McIlroy arrived in India chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, entering the tournament one win behind Colin Montgomerie’s record. His result puts that prosecution on hold, with the DP World Tour playoffs starting next month in Abu Dhabi.The inaugural championship payout also put McIlroy’s reported appearance fee into perspective, although Kisner’s reported $10 million figure was separate from the tournament’s official purse. The winner received $680,000, with $440,000 for second place and $252,000 for third.McIlroy is expected to return to action in Abu Dhabi next month when he opens the DP World Tour playoffs and continues his quest for an eighth Race to Dubai crown. The Indian appearance therefore formed part of a wider international plan, even if its motives became a matter of debate.