Shubhankar Sharma Leads Indian Golf at USD 4M DP World Championship

New Delhi, Aug 27 (PTI) - Indian golf sensation Shubhankar Sharma, a two-time DP World Tour winner, is all set to lead the home contingent at the highly anticipated USD 4 million DP World India Championship. This prestigious event will take place from October 16-19 and will feature international golfing stars like Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.

Sharma's recent career achievements include representing India at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. He made history as the youngest Indian player to win on the DP World Tour with his triumph at the Joburg Open in December 2017 at the tender age of 21. He followed up with another impressive victory two months later at the Maybank Championship, where he shot a stunning final round of 62. His stellar season earned him the 2018 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award and he topped the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

The 29-year-old has showcased his talent on the Professional Golf Tour of India, securing six victories. His remarkable performance continued with a top 10 finish at a Major Championship, tying for 8th place at The Open held at Royal Liverpool in 2023.

Sharma is set to join a formidable field that includes reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy and his teammate from the Europe Ryder Cup team, Tommy Fleetwood. Fleetwood, a seven-time DP World Tour winner, is also an Olympic silver medallist and the newly-crowned FedExCup champion. Together, they will compete at the inaugural DP World India Championship, hosted by the iconic Delhi Golf Club.

DP World, a leading smart logistics provider, teamed up with the DP World Tour to launch the DP World India Championship this year. The tournament, co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), boasts the largest prize fund ever for a DP World Tour event in India, promising an exciting showcase of talent.

Sharma expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "We're all very excited about the DP World India Championship. I can't wait to get back to Delhi Golf Club. It's a historic course - I played there a lot as a junior and have very fond memories. It's a tough course, it's iconic, and I'm sure the DP World Tour players who have played there will remember it well."

He continued, "Having players like Rory McIlroy as the reigning Masters champion and Tommy Fleetwood, the FedExCup champion, coming to the event, things like this can change golf in India."

Sharma recalled the impact of watching Tiger Woods play in an exhibition match years ago, noting, "To have such an incredible field coming to the country will make this event really special."

This tournament underscores India's rising prominence as a prime destination for elite golf and highlights its significance as a strategic market for DP World. This new event follows the success of the 2025 Hero Indian Open, won by Eugenio Chacarra, further enhancing the Tour's growth in the region.

The DP World India Championship is set to be the eighth of nine events in the 'Back 9' phase of the 2025 Race to Dubai, building momentum toward the season-ending DP World Tour play-offs and culminating in the grand DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

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