New Delhi: DP World and the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI) have jointly launched the Race to DP World India Championship, a new season-long competition that will decide the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion, qualifiers for the DP World India Championship 2026 and playing rights for the 2027 PGTI season.
The new competition will feature nine DP World PGTI tournaments in the build-up to the DP World India Championship 2026, scheduled at the Delhi Golf Club from October 15 to 18.
The nine tournaments in the Race will offer a combined prize purse of INR 10 crore, taking the total prize money for the 2026 DP World PGTI season to INR 41 crore.
Order of Merit champion to be decided in October
Under the revised format, the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion will be determined only after the DP World India Championship.
The US$4 million event at Delhi Golf Club will therefore have a direct bearing on the season-ending Order of Merit standings.
The change also means the DP World PGTI season will conclude in October from 2026, instead of running until December as in previous years.
According to the organisers, aligning the domestic calendar more closely with the DP World Tour will allow the PGTI Order of Merit champion to move more smoothly onto the international tour and make better use of playing opportunities after securing exempt status.
Top 24 to qualify for DP World India Championship
The Race to DP World India Championship began with three events in August — the J&K Open, Coal India Open and Kolar Open — which have already been completed.
It will conclude with the inaugural Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship at Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida, from September 30 to October 3.
At the end of that tournament, the top 24 players in the Race to DP World India Championship standings will qualify for the DP World India Championship 2026.
The top 60 players on the DP World PGTI Order of Merit will also retain their playing rights for the 2027 DP World PGTI season.
The DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion will be honoured during the prize presentation ceremony following the DP World India Championship.
Nine events form Race to DP World India Championship
The Race to DP World India Championship 2026 comprises:
- J&K Open at Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar — August 4-7
- Coal India Open in Kolkata — August 11-14
- Kolar Open at ZION Hills Golf County, Kolar, Karnataka — August 18-21
- Telangana Open at Vooty Golf County, Vikarabad, Telangana — August 25-28
- Golconda Masters at Hyderabad Golf Association — September 1-4
- Chennai Open at TNGF Cosmo Golf Course — September 8-11
- Nava Raipur Open at Fairway Golf & Lake Resort, Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh — September 15-18
- Bengaluru Open at Karnataka Golf Association — September 22-25
- Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship at Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida — September 30-October 3
The Golconda Masters returns for its 12th edition, while the Chennai Open and Bengaluru Open will stage their fifth editions.
The Nava Raipur Open and Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship will make their debuts on the DP World PGTI schedule.
DP World backs pathway for Indian golfers
Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager Subcontinent (India), DP World, said the new Race was aimed at strengthening the pathway for Indian golfers to compete internationally.
“At DP World, we are committed to strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem and creating meaningful pathways for homegrown talent to compete on the global stage. The Race to the DP World India Championship, in partnership with DP World PGTI, reflects that ambition by giving India’s leading golfers the opportunity to earn their place alongside some of the world’s best,” Ruia said.
“India is one of DP World’s most important markets, and we are proud to play a role in growing the game and supporting the next generation of sporting talent. We look forward to welcoming India’s finest golfers to Delhi Golf Club this October for the DP World India Championship, where they will have the opportunity to test themselves against a world-class field.”
DP World PGTI president Kapil Dev said the competition would reward consistency through the season while strengthening the link between Indian golf and the global tour.
“The Race to DP World India Championship is a great initiative and reflects our shared vision with DP World of strengthening the pathway from Indian golf to the global stage,” Kapil Dev said.
“The Race introduces a fascinating season-long contest which will reward consistency, raise the competitive standard throughout the season and further enhance the significance of the DP World India Championship. Aligning our season with the DP World Tour creates greater opportunities for our leading players to make an immediate impact internationally. I wish the players all the best for the Race to DP World India Championship.”
New PGTI season to begin after India Championship
Following the conclusion of the DP World India Championship 2026, the new DP World PGTI season will begin, marking the start of the Race to DP World India Championship 2027.
DP World and DP World PGTI will also stage a Pro-Am event at Delhi Golf Club on the day after the DP World India Championship.
The Pro-Am will be followed by a prize presentation function in the evening, where the DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion and the DP World PGTI Emerging Player of the Year will be felicitated.
From next season, the nine-tournament Race format is set to expand across the full DP World PGTI calendar.
 have jointly launched the Race to DP World India Championship, a new season-long competition that will decide the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion, qualifiers for the DP World India Championship 2026 and playing rights for the 2027 PGTI season.){kind=link}