In early February 2025, Bryson DeChambeau, who will arrive at next month’s U.S. Open as the defending champion, made history on the other side of the world.
He became the first reigning major winner to tee it up professionally in India, doing so at an Asian Tour event at the DLF Golf and Country Club. DeChambeau played well, posting a solo second finish thanks to a remarkable final round 65 on a difficult layout. But he finished four strokes behind Ollie Schniederjans, who finished atop the leaderboard at 10-under par. Only four players finished in red figures.
Fast forward to Wednesday and another major champion announced that he will head to India this fall.
Rory McIlroy, who won The Masters in dramatic fashion in April, has committed to playing in the inaugural DP World India Championship. The Delhi Golf Club will host this event from October 16-19.
“I’m excited to not only tee it up in India for the first time but also visit a country that I’ve always wanted to explore,” McIlroy said via a DP World Tour statement.
“I’m proud to play in the inaugural DP World India Championship. I’ve always enjoyed playing a global schedule and as I have previously said, there is tremendous potential to grow golf further in the country. This is a great opportunity, and I can’t wait to play in front of Indian golf fans.”
McIlroy’s commitment to playing in India backs up his comments from January 2024, when he said he longed for a ‘global tour.’ His declaration came shortly after Jon Rahm bolted for LIV Golf. They also came a few days after Dec. 31, 2023, the date in which the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV’s beneficiary, set a deadline to strike a formal agreement. Of course, a formalized deal between the two sides still has not come into fruition all this time later.
“My dream scenario is a world tour, with the proviso that corporate America has to remain a big part of it all. Saudi Arabia, too. That’s just basic economics. But there is an untapped commercial opportunity out there. Investors always want to make a return on their money,” McIlroy said before the 2024 Dubai Invitational in early January.
“Revenues at the PGA Tour right now are about $2.3 billion. So, how do we get that number up to four or six? To me, it is by looking outward. They need to think internationally and spread their wings a bit. I’ve been banging that drum for a while.”
Since turning professional, McIlroy has teed it up in 28 different countries. India will be the 29th.
“Whether [events] are rotated on the new global circuit, or we go with the same ones every year, I’m okay with either,” McIlroy added then.
“The Australian Open, for example, should almost be the fifth major. The market down there is huge with potential. They love golf. They love sport. They have been starved of top-level golf. And the courses are so good.”
Rory McIlroy Around the World
McIlroy has committed to playing at the 2025 Australian Open. Royal Melbourne, long heralded as one of the best golf courses in the world, will host this year’s tournament. Kingston Heath, another gem that is a part of Melbourne’s ‘Sand Belt’ region, will host next year’s Australian Open, which McIlroy will also play in.
He is making it a priority to make starts around the world in 2025 and looks destined to do something similar in 2026.
McIlroy’s start on the Indian Subcontinent in October will likely be his first competitive event after playing in the Ryder Cup, which Bethpage Black on Long Island will host in September. It will mark McIlroy’s eighth appearance for Team Europe in the biennial competition.
Before then, McIlroy will return to the British Isles for two events, the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship. Last year, McIlroy coughed up the lead at the Irish Open at Royal County Down, losing to Rasmus Hojgaard by one. He then lost to Billy Horschel in a playoff at Wentworth the following week. This year’s Irish Open will take place at The K Club while the BMW PGA Championship returns to Wentworth for the 41st consecutive year.
McIlroy has also committed to playing in the Canadian Open in June — likely his next start — and the Scottish Open in July, prioritizing national opens ahead of other events. He also has the U.S. Open at Oakmont and The Open at Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland circled on his calendar.
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