Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship 2026: Top Indian golfers tee off in Greater Noida
Synopsis
The Kapil Dev Invitational returns for a fourth edition — this time elevated to the PGTI Tour Championship — with ₹2 crore on the line and the Top-60 professionals fighting not just for the trophy but for their place in the season-finale Top-24. It's the most high-stakes week on the Indian golf calendar, and the Pro-Am twist across all four rounds makes it unlike any previous edition.
Key Takeaways
The Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship 2026 runs from 7 to 10 October at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Greater Noida .
The prize purse is ₹2 crore , with 64 professionals including the current Top-60 on the DP World PGTI Order of Merit in the field.
Key Indian contenders include Shubhankar Sharma , Yuvraj Sandhu (reigning Order of Merit champion), and Saptak Talwar (current Order of Merit leader).
This is the fourth edition of the tournament and the first time it is held as the PGTI Tour Championship.
This is the last event before the Top-24 in the Race to India Championship are confirmed for the season finale the following week.
10 foreign professionals from 8 countries are competing, alongside a unique Pro-Am format across all four rounds.
The Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship 2026 gets underway at the Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Greater Noida from 7 to 10 October, with a stellar field of 64 professionals — including India's best-ranked golfers — competing for a prize purse of ₹2 crore. This is the fourth edition of the Kapil Dev Invitational and, notably, the first time it is being staged as the PGTI Tour Championship.
Star-Studded Indian Field
The Indian contingent headlining the field includes Shubhankar Sharma, reigning PGTI Order of Merit champion Yuvraj Sandhu, and current PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar. Also in contention are Khalin Joshi, Veer Ahlawat, Honey Baisoya, Akshay Sharma, and Rashid Khan. Among the Greater Noida-based professionals competing alongside Saptak Talwar are Amardeep Malik and Arjun Sharma.
The field comprises the current Top-60 on the DP World PGTI Order of Merit, making this the most competitive domestic golf gathering of the season. This is the final event before the Top-24 in the Race to India Championship are confirmed for the season finale the following week — raising the stakes considerably for players on the bubble.
International Presence Across Eight Countries
Ten foreign professionals from eight countries add an international dimension to the tournament. The overseas contingent includes N. Thangaraja (Sri Lanka), Michele Ortolani (Italy), Jamal Hossain, Badal Hossain, and Md Akbar Hossain (Bangladesh), Subash Tamang (Nepal), Stepan Danek (Czech Republic), Joshua Seale (Uganda), Tanapat Pichaikool (Thailand), and Koichiro Ishika (Japan).
Unique Pro-Am Format Across All Four Rounds
The tournament blends professional competition with a Pro-Am component across all four rounds, with a different set of amateurs participating each day. Each Pro-Am team consists of one professional and one amateur; the amateur plays in a modified scramble format while the professional competes in standard stroke play. The professional's score counts toward both the professional leaderboard and the Pro-Am championship, and the top three Pro-Am teams each round stand to win prizes.
What the Organisers Said
Kapil Dev, President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), expressed enthusiasm about the tournament's evolution. 'I am delighted to see the Kapil Dev Invitational return for its fourth edition as the Tour Championship. It is particularly gratifying that the tournament brings together the best professionals on the Tour while also creating an opportunity for amateurs to experience the competitive environment of professional golf,' he said.
C. Sasidhar, Chairman of Vishwa Samudra Engineering, noted the significance of being part of the event for the first time. 'This will be our third tournament with the DP World PGTI, but our first Tour Championship, making the occasion particularly special for us,' he said. Amandeep Johl, CEO of PGTI, added that 'the tournament promises to be a visual spectacle for golf fans as the PGTI's elite field of top-60 competes for the prestigious trophy and the last opportunity to seal their spots in the top-24 of the Race to India Championship.'
What Is at Stake
Beyond the ₹2 crore prize purse, the tournament serves as the final qualifying event for the Race to India Championship season finale. For professionals currently ranked between 20th and 30th on the Order of Merit, each round carries outsized implications. The combination of financial stakes, season-defining ranking positions, and a unique Pro-Am structure makes this one of the most consequential weeks on the Indian golf calendar. All eyes will be on Yuvraj Sandhu and Saptak Talwar as they battle for Order of Merit supremacy heading into the finale.
Point of View
Climactic event and gives the tournament genuine stakes beyond a standalone trophy. The Pro-Am format across all four rounds is an underappreciated innovation: it broadens the audience and creates corporate and amateur buy-in that most Asian Tour satellites lack. The real drama, however, will be in the Order of Merit battle — with Yuvraj Sandhu defending his crown and Saptak Talwar leading the standings, the week doubles as both a prestige event and a high-pressure qualifying round, which is the kind of narrative that could push Indian golf into wider sports coverage.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship 2026?
It is the fourth edition of the Kapil Dev Invitational golf tournament, being held for the first time as the PGTI Tour Championship at Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Greater Noida from 7 to 10 October 2026. The event carries a prize purse of ₹2 crore and features the Top-60 professionals on the DP World PGTI Order of Merit.
Which top Indian golfers are playing in the Kapil Dev Invitational 2026?
The field includes Shubhankar Sharma, reigning PGTI Order of Merit champion Yuvraj Sandhu, current Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar, Khalin Joshi, Veer Ahlawat, Honey Baisoya, Akshay Sharma, and Rashid Khan, among others.
Why is the Kapil Dev Invitational 2026 especially significant this year?
This is the last event before the Top-24 in the Race to India Championship are finalised for the season finale the following week. Professionals on the Order of Merit bubble are effectively competing for their place in the season's most prestigious event, adding high stakes beyond the trophy itself.
What is the Pro-Am format at the Kapil Dev Invitational?
All four rounds of the tournament include a Pro-Am component, with a different set of amateurs each day. Each team pairs one professional with one amateur; the amateur plays in a modified scramble format while the professional competes in stroke play. The professional's score counts toward both the professional leaderboard and the Pro-Am championship, with prizes for the top three Pro-Am teams each round.
Are there international players in the Kapil Dev Invitational 2026?
Yes, 10 foreign professionals from eight countries are competing, including players from Sri Lanka, Italy, Bangladesh, Nepal, Czech Republic, Uganda, Thailand, and Japan.
