PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai is the latest major champion confirmed for the 2026 India Championship, set to take place at Delhi Golf Club from 15–18 October 2026. The world No. 17, who clinched his maiden Major title at Aronimink Golf Club in May, will make his debut at the tournament alongside a field widely regarded as the strongest ever assembled for a DP World Tour event in India.

A World-Class Field in Delhi

Rai will compete alongside defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy, and 2026 Open Champion Ryan Fox. Fellow Major winners Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Bubba Watson, and Patrick Reed — currently leading the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World — are also confirmed in the field.

European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald, Ryder Cup star Viktor Hovland, and DP World Tour and PGA TOUR winner Min Woo Lee will also travel to Delhi. Indian fans will have strong home representation too, with Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri among the domestic stars chasing glory on home soil.

Rai's Personal Connection to India

The Englishman, who carries Indian and Kenyan heritage, has described his upcoming debut as particularly meaningful. Rai, a four-time DP World Tour winner who also claimed the 2024 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour, said: 'I'm excited to travel to Delhi for the India Championship this year. I've heard a lot about the event, and with connections to India throughout my family, there is a lot to look forward to across the week.'

Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager, Subcontinent (India), DP World, noted that Rai's participation adds a symbolic dimension to the event. 'As a US PGA Championship winner with Indian heritage, he represents a powerful link between India and the global golfing community,' Ruia said. 'Alongside fellow Major champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, his presence reflects the world-class calibre of the field and the growing stature of the tournament.'

Tournament Background and Prize Fund

Global smart logistics provider DP World and the DP World Tour launched the $4,000,000 India Championship in 2025. Co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the event carries the largest prize fund ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India. This second edition follows the success of the long-running Hero Indian Open and further strengthens the Tour's footprint in the region.

DP World has served as the Tour's title partner since 2022 and became the Title and Official Umbrella Partner of the PGTI earlier in 2026. The company's India partnerships extend beyond golf to include the Delhi Capitals and grassroots initiatives such as the Second Life Container project and the 'Balls for Birdies' campaign, which leverage its logistics network to increase access to the sport.

Race to Dubai Implications

The India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai, making it a high-stakes stop on the road to the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs. The calendar culminates with the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. With Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed among the confirmed starters, the Delhi leaderboard could have direct implications for the season standings.

As India's profile as a global golf destination continues to grow, the second edition of the India Championship represents a significant step in anchoring Delhi — and the country — as a permanent fixture on the elite international circuit.