Staff WriterTommy Fleetwood is heading back to India – and not just for the curry. The seven-time DP World Tour winner and Olympic silver medallist will join Rory McIlroy at the inaugural DP World India Championship, teeing off October 16-19 at the Delhi Golf Club. It’s the kind of heavyweight pairing that’ll have fans scrambling for tickets when they go on sale this Thursday, August 7.
It marks a long-awaited return for Fleetwood, who hasn’t played in India since 2016. And he’s not coming back quietly. With a career that includes topping the Race to Dubai rankings in 2017 and clinching the winning point for Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, Fleetwood brings both form and firepower to a field already buzzing with anticipation.
“I can’t wait to get back to Delhi for the DP World India Championship,” said Fleetwood. “It’s such an amazing place – the people, the food – I’m looking forward to soaking it all in. But mainly I’m aiming to play some good golf and entertain the Indian fans at an important point in the season.”
Fleetwood’s not just here to swing sticks and pose for selfies. The 33-year-old has become a true ambassador for the game, having launched the Tommy Fleetwood Academy in both Formby Hall, where he honed his skills, and in Dubai, where he now resides. He also plays a central role in DP World’s efforts to grow the game globally – a mission that’s hitting full stride with this new Indian venture.
“I’m also very much looking forward to playing at Delhi Golf Club again,” he added. “I remember it as a tight, challenging, strategic golf course. I think it’s great leveller, where players with all styles of play can contend, so it should help to make for a very exciting week.
“DP World are such huge supporters of our sport – including the Tommy Fleetwood Academy, which I am so passionate about – and it’s fantastic to see them help to grow the game in India with this new event.”
Backed by global smart logistics giant DP World and co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the DP World India Championship boasts a record $4 million purse – the richest prize ever for a DP World Tour event on Indian soil. It’s the latest milestone in India’s rise as a major player in world golf, coming hot on the heels of Eugenio Chacarra’s win at the 2025 Hero Indian Open.
Yuvraj Narayan, Group Deputy CEO and CFO at DP World, underlined the significance of the event: “India is a key part of our global business, and hosting a tournament of this scale reflects our long-term commitment to the country.
With Rory McIlroy already confirmed, we’re pleased to have Tommy Fleetwood joining the field, adding to what promises to be a world-class lineup.
The DP World India Championship will shine a global spotlight on India’s place in the world of professional golf, and we’re very proud to be bringing this international event to Delhi in October.”
The tournament is also a strategic piece in the DP World Tour puzzle, slotted eighth in the ‘Back 9’ series that leads into the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs in Dubai this November. In short, expect fireworks – both in Delhi and down the stretch.
Off the course, DP World continues to swing big in India. Beyond partnerships with the Delhi Capitals cricket franchise, they’ve launched grassroots golf initiatives like the ‘Second Life Container’ programme and the ‘Balls for Birdies’ campaign, using their logistics network to distribute equipment and open up the game to new players across the region.
With both Fleetwood and McIlroy confirmed, and the DP World India Championship offering a bumper purse on a storied course, Delhi Golf Club is about to become the epicentre of global golf – and tickets are bound to vanish faster than a straight drive at altitude.
⛳ Tickets go on sale Thursday, August 7. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
