Australian golf star Min Woo Lee will make his first professional appearance in India at the second edition of the India Championship, scheduled at the Delhi Golf Club from 15 to 18 October 2026. The USD 4 million event, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), is shaping up as one of the most star-laden fields ever assembled on Indian soil.

A Field Built for the Ages

Lee joins a formidable international line-up headlined by defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, and 2026 Open Champion Ryan Fox. Major winners Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, and Ryder Cup stalwart Viktor Hovland are also expected to compete. India's own Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri will carry the home challenge.

Who Is Min Woo Lee

Lee, born in Perth, Australia, is a three-time DP World Tour winner who claimed his maiden title at the 2019 ISPS HANDA Vic Open, just a year after turning professional. He added two further victories, including a Rolex Series triumph in Scotland in 2021. Last season, he secured his first PGA TOUR title at the Texas Children's Houston Open, edging World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and major champion Gary Woodland in the process.

Expressing enthusiasm for his India debut, Lee said: 'I love playing all around the world, and I'm excited to tee it up in India for the first time at the India Championship. I heard a lot about last year's tournament, and it's shaping up to be another incredible field, so I'm looking forward to the whole experience both on and off the golf course.'

Tournament's Place in the Global Calendar

The India Championship carries the largest prize purse offered for a DP World Tour event in India and forms part of the critical Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai — specifically the eighth of nine events in that stretch. The season culminates in the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai in November 2026. The event's return reinforces India's growing credentials as a host nation, sitting alongside the long-running Hero Indian Open on the country's golfing calendar.

What DP World Said

Hemant Kumar Ruia, DP World's Country Manager for the Subcontinent (India), framed the tournament within the company's broader India strategy. 'For over three decades, DP World has invested in India, building the infrastructure and connectivity that help businesses grow, create opportunities, and connect to global markets,' he said. 'The India Championship reflects that same long-term commitment to supporting talent, fostering ambition and creating platforms for excellence.'

Ruia added that the participation of players of Lee's calibre 'elevates the stature of the tournament while inspiring the next generation of Indian golfers to dream bigger and compete at the highest level.'

What to Watch

With Race to Dubai points on the line and a prize fund of USD 4 million, the India Championship is no longer a peripheral stop — it is a destination event with genuine consequence for the season's final standings. All eyes will be on whether India's home contingent can mount a challenge against a field of this depth when play begins on 15 October.