Golf’s glittering stars in India: Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Luke Donald battle for $4million prize money at DP World India Championship

That the DP World India Championship arrives so close to the heated hostilities at Bethpage Black has added to the interest among followers of golf, with Ben Griffin, who was part of the US team in the biennial showdown and Brian Harman, the 2023 Open champion, headlining the American contingent.

What adds to the intrigue is that McIlroy, Hovland and Griffin have been paired together for the first two rounds.

It has been 11 years since Tiger Woods played an exhibition round at the DGC, setting turnout records in Indian golf, but as far as competitive events go, the tournament beginning on Thursday will be the biggest-ever in India, in terms of prize money (US$4 million) as well as the field. The winner will walk away with $680,000.

It explains the number of people inside the gates, with the number of stalls and tents a clue to the size of one of the bigger events on the DP World Tour (formerly known as the European Tour). Former India cricket captain Kapil Dev, who is also the president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), was here, as was Indian Olympic Association head PT Usha, probably lured by McIlroy’s star power.

That the DGC is situated in the middle of the bustling national capital provides accessibility but also brings constraints of size and space. Woods had famously said that it was the narrowest golf course he had played on in his life, rewarding accuracy over distance. Most of the players interacting with the media said that they were unlikely to use their drivers.

The 29-year old Shubhankar Sharma, who has played on the course since he was very young but did so last in 2020, has been looking forward to the event for a long time.

“I have been excited about it since January. I’ve played with Rory, Tommy, Shane and these guys on the DP World Tour, but it’s always been in their countries. It’ll be a great experience to have them here,” said Shubhankar, who was also part of an impromptu event with the tournament sponsors, which included budding golfers – both boys and girls – in the lead-up to the tournament.

Shubhankar also recognised the different vibe that comes with the biggest golfing event to ever come to the country. “There are a lot of tents and chalets around, along with hoardings of the big players who have come. There’s definitely a buzz around the place. As far as the course is concerned, the greens have changed and the rough is thick, but the set-up is the same,” Shubhankar, who has two wins on the DP World Tour, said.

An event of this magnitude brings forth several challenges, and DGC president Raj Khosla said that the prolonged monsoon made preparation difficult.

“We had European technical know-how to prepare the golf course to international standards, but we couldn’t have planned for the incessant downpours beyond the expected monsoon season,” Khosla told The Indian Express.

Preparing the course required access to be curtailed, which wasn’t to everyone’s liking, especially for a club with an exclusive members’ list.

“We had to close the course for three weeks as it was set up for the tournament,” he said. “We are a members’ club, and the members couldn’t use the facilities. But the tournament is great for the club’s visibility.”

The space constraints brought challenges as far as parking is concerned, which Khosla described as a “nightmare” as well as security.

“But we are bending backwards to make the event a success,” he said, informing that the tournament is sold out for the four days.

Donald back as player

Hailed as the best Ryder Cup captain ever, Donald is back with his clubs in hand, but is not sure if the transformation is complete.

“I haven’t put enough time in as a player over the last few years, and my expectations as a player have also changed,” the 47-year-old Englishman said. “When you are captain, the only thoughts in your mind over the five-six weeks going into the Ryder Cup are about pairings, strategy and the gifts.”

Not the farthest hitter off the tee even when he was World No.1 for 56 weeks in total, Donald believes the DGC could favour his attributes. “It’s a narrow golf course with an old-school set-up, and provides a unique challenge. Course management is key here rather than hitting it as far as you can,” he said. “If I get in contention, the tension and energy will take over.”

Shubhankar spoke about what the high-profile tournament means to Indian golf. “It’s an iconic golf course for us, and India is a growing market for the game. The tournament will be great for Indian players. An Indian winning will be a game-changer for golf in the country.”