Four-time Major champion and one of the biggest names in world golf, Rory McIlroy is set to compete in India for the first time at the USD 4 million India World Championship, which begins at the iconic Delhi Golf Club (DGC) on Thursday. For a player who has conquered every major on the planet and recently completed his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters, this trip to India is much more than just another tournament.
In a candid interview, McIlroy revealed that it was a chat with tennis legend Roger Federer that inspired him to embark on this journey into unknown territory. “After 20 or 18 years of your career, you don’t want to go to the same monotonous places,” McIlroy said. “At the end of his career, Roger said he wanted to play in places he could never play in his career.
Inspired by Federer’s words, McIlroy admitted that India had been on his travel bucket list for a long time. “India is a country I’ve wanted to travel to for a long time. It’s a very vibrant place. I’m excited to play a golf tournament in a place I’ve never played before. To still be able to do things for the first time is something that excites me.”
The Northern Irishman has watched tournaments at Delhi Golf Club over the years on TV and says the course certainly lives up to its reputation. Known for its narrow fairways and dense tree cover, the DGC demands accuracy over performance – a challenge McIlroy welcomes. “The next time I crash my driver will be in Abu Dhabi,” he joked, adding that he may not use his driver at all this week because the risk isn’t worth the reward.
The event also marks a fresh start for McIlroy, who reflected on the turbulent Ryder Cup two weeks ago at Bethpage Black, where he and his wife Erica faced abuse from rowdy American fans. “I followed the narrative, but it detracts from what we were focused on – an incredible performance by the European team at the outdoor Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said. “Watching the highlights, especially the first two days in the foursome and fourball, really shows how good the European team was.”
Joining McIlroy at the DP World India Championship is a star-studded field featuring major champions Shane Lowry and Brian Harman, world-class players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland and two-time Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. The event boasts the largest purse ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India and features 26 Indian players, many of whom are familiar with the DGC layout.
Indian golf stars like Anirban Lahiri, Shubhankar Sharma, Shiv Kapur, Rahil Gangjee and Ajeetesh Sandhu are looking forward to test their skills against this elite international course on home soil. Lahiri, a former Indian Open champion, is particularly excited to return to a course he knows well. “A lot has changed since I last played here, but the pitch still has a familiar feel to it. I’m very happy and excited to be back,” he said.
Among India’s promising young talents, Veer Ahlawat, who received his DP World Tour card after winning the PGTI Order of Merit last season, expressed optimism about the coming week. “I haven’t had the best season but this event is a great opportunity to make an impact. I want this event to be important because a top 10 finish would help me keep my card on the DP World Tour.”
With a mix of seasoned stars and emerging talent, the DP World India Championship promises to be an exciting week of golf at one of the sport’s most prestigious venues. And for McIlroy, this tournament is more than just a competition – it’s a chance to embrace new experiences inspired by one of the sport’s greatest icons and write a new chapter in his remarkable career.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
October 16, 2025
