‘Three Major champions playing in India is a very big thing’: PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl

Indian golf is set for a landmark occasion as three reigning Major champions — Rory McIlroy, Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai — prepare to compete together for the first time in the country at the India Championship, scheduled at Delhi Golf Club from October 15 to 18.

The second edition of the tournament will feature eight players from the world’s top 20, giving the event one of the strongest international fields seen on Indian soil.

Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) CEO and Delhi Golf Club captain Amandeep Johl described the presence of three reigning Major winners as a significant moment for the sport in India.

“For the first time in India, three reigning major championship winners will play together in one golf tournament. Rory McIlroy, Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai, who are three Major champions, will be here. This is a very big thing for Indian golf,” Johl said.

McIlroy, a Career Grand Slam winner, will be joined by Fox, who won the 2026 Open Championship, and Rai, who claimed his maiden Major title at the PGA Championship earlier this year.

Rai, who has Indian and Kenyan heritage, has already spoken about his anticipation ahead of his India Championship debut.

“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,” Rai had said.

The field will also feature defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Bubba Watson and Patrick Reed, besides European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, Viktor Hovland and Min Woo Lee.

India’s challenge will be led by Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri, with around 27 Indian golfers expected to compete.

Johl also pointed to the distinctive nature of the Delhi Golf Club course, which he believes will pose a demanding challenge even for the star-studded field.

“Delhi Golf Club has one of the most unique golf courses in the entire world, and the setting is such that the players are afraid to take out the driver earlier,” he said.