Golf: Min Woo Lee set to make India debut at star-studded India Championship
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Australian star Min Woo Lee will make his professional debut in India when he joins a high-profile field for the second edition of the India Championship, scheduled to be held at Delhi Golf Club from October 15 to 18.
The DP World Tour and PGA TOUR winner will line up alongside defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy and 2026 Open Champion Ryan Fox, adding further weight to an event that is emerging as a major fixture on the Indian golfing calendar.
Lee, a three-time DP World Tour winner, claimed his maiden title at the 2019 ISPS HANDA Vic Open, just a year after turning professional. He followed that breakthrough with two more victories, including Rolex Series success in Scotland in 2021.
The Perth-born golfer also secured his first PGA TOUR title last season, edging World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and major champion Gary Woodland to win the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Reflecting on his first visit to India, 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.”
The USD 4 million India Championship, launched by DP World and the DP World Tour in 2025, is co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). It carries the largest prize purse offered for a DP World Tour event in India and forms part of the crucial Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai.
The second edition boasts a formidable international line-up. Alongside McIlroy, Fox and Fleetwood, major champions Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and Ryder Cup stars Viktor Hovland and Fleetwood are among those expected to compete. India’s challenge will include established names such as Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri.
DP World’s Country Manager, Subcontinent (India), Hemant Kumar Ruia, said the tournament was aligned with the company’s wider efforts to support sporting development in the country.
“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. The India Championship reflects that same long-term commitment to supporting talent, fostering ambition and creating platforms for excellence.
“The participation of world-class players such as Min Woo Lee elevates the stature of the tournament while inspiring the next generation of Indian golfers to dream bigger and compete at the highest level.
“Our ambition is to make golf more accessible, encourage wider participation and contribute to the continued growth of the sport in India. The India Championship is an important step towards that vision, providing a platform that celebrates excellence while helping nurture the future of Indian golf.”
The tournament’s return also reinforces India’s growing role on the international golf calendar. It adds to the country’s established hosting credentials, including the long-running Hero Indian Open, while strengthening the DP World Tour’s presence in the region.
The India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai, with the season eventually culminating in the DP World Tour Play-Offs and the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai in November.
–IANS
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