New Delhi, August 24: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has introduced a new race for the 2026 season, aimed at determining the top players and enhancing the significance of the ‘India Championship.’ For the first time, the ‘Order of Merit’ champion will be decided at the season’s final event.
On Monday, PGTI and DP World jointly announced the ‘Race to DP World India Championship.’ This race will culminate with the $4 million ‘India Championship’ at the Delhi Golf Club from October 15 to 18.
Under the new structure, the ‘Order of Merit’ champion will be determined after the season-ending championship, rather than at the last event before the year-end break. This change aims to make the Delhi tournament a crucial part of the season and better align the domestic circuit with the international calendar.
The race will feature nine tournaments with a total prize pool of ₹10 crore. Three events—the Jammu & Kashmir Open, the Coal India Open, and the Kolar Open—have already taken place, while the remaining six tournaments will occur between August 25 and October 3.
The race will conclude with the inaugural ‘Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship’ at JP Greens in Greater Noida from September 30 to October 3.
This race will also set two important milestones for players. After the Greater Noida tournament, the top 24 players in the race standings will qualify for the season-ending championship. Additionally, the top 60 players in the PGTI ‘Order of Merit’ will retain their playing rights for the 2027 season.
During the awards ceremony at the Delhi Golf Club following the championship, the ‘Order of Merit’ champion will be officially honored.
With the new structure, the PGTI season will now conclude in October, instead of December. Officials believe that better alignment with the DP World Tour calendar will facilitate opportunities for top domestic players to progress.
This change is particularly significant for the ‘Order of Merit’ champion, as they will receive special exemption status to play in the DP World Tour. Improved coordination between the two calendars will allow top Indian players to seize international opportunities more swiftly.
PGTI President Kapil Dev stated that the new format will elevate competition in the domestic season and enhance pathways for Indian players to reach the global stage.
“The Race to DP World India Championship is an excellent initiative that reflects our vision with DP World to strengthen the pathway from Indian golf to the global stage. This race will offer an exciting competition throughout the season, rewarding consistent performers and elevating the significance of the DP World India Championship. By aligning our season with the DP World Tour, our top players will have more opportunities to make their mark internationally. I wish all players the best for the Race to DP World India Championship,” he said.
Hemant Kumar Ruiya, Country Manager for DP World Subcontinent (India), remarked, “At DP World, we are committed to strengthening India’s sports ecosystem and creating meaningful pathways for domestic talent to play on the global stage. The Race to the DP World India Championship fulfills this objective, providing India’s top golfers the opportunity to compete alongside some of the world’s best players. India is one of DP World’s key markets, and we take pride in playing a role in advancing the sport and supporting the next generation of sports talent. We are excited to welcome India’s best golfers to the Delhi Golf Club this October, where they will have the chance to compete against world-class players.”
The remaining tournaments in the race will kick off with the Telangana Open at Vikarabad from August 25-28, followed by the Golconda Masters in Hyderabad from September 1-4 and the Chennai Open from September 8-11.
Subsequent events include the Nava Raipur Open from September 15-18 and the Bengaluru Open from September 22-25, leading up to the final event in Greater Noida.
The Golconda Masters will be held for the 12th time, while the Chennai Open and Bengaluru Open will return for their fifth editions. The Nava Raipur Open and Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship are new additions to this schedule.
The season will conclude at the Delhi Golf Club, where the top 24 players in the race will compete for the ₹4 million prize and the ‘Order of Merit’ title. The following day, a Pro-Am event will take place, followed by an awards ceremony to honor the ‘Order of Merit’ champion and ‘Emerging Player of the Year.’ The next PGTI season and the 2027 edition of the ‘Race to India Championship’ will commence immediately after the conclusion of the Delhi Championship.
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