The DP World Tour is approaching its playoffs, and several big names have arrived in Delhi for the DP World India Championship.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood returns as the defending champion. He won the inaugural event in 2025 and will hope to lift the trophy again this year.
Delhi Golf Club will host the second edition. Its narrow fairways and heavy tree cover could challenge the players. Temperatures around 30°C will also test their fitness.
The DP World Tour playoffs begin in Abu Dhabi in three weeks. The season will then conclude with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Jay Kennedy picks five contenders who could challenge for the title.
Tommy Fleetwood
The first name to keep an eye on is defending DP World India champion Fleetwood.
The Englishman claimed victory in the inaugural 2025 edition, securing a two-stroke victory ahead of Japan’s Keita Nakajima.
Despite no wins in 2026, Fleetwood did put up a fantastic hometown performance at the Open Championship.
Held at Southport’s Royal Birkdale, Fleetwood finished in a tie for fourth, and shot under par in every single round.
In addition to his effortless swing and consistency, the 2025 FedEx Cup winner has caught a lot of attention this year with his choice of golf clothing, after his Nike contract expired.
The Englishman has gone viral this year by donning attire matching the courses of PGA events and majors throughout the year.
He will surely catch attention this year, as he looks to go back to back in Delhi.
Outright winner odds: 8/1 with Sky Bet
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy will be at the centre of all that goes on this week, as the world number two returns to action.
The Grand Slam winner last appeared at the BMW PGA Championship in Surrey.
It was a good showing from McIlroy, as he finished in a tie for second behind JJ Spaun.
In a season with a much more limited schedule than usual, the Northern Irishman has claimed his only season victory so far at The Masters, going back to back in the process.
Hopeful of defending his Race to Dubai crown, McIlroy enters this week in third place in the standings.
The 37-year-old will be hoping to go better than his finish last year, where he finished tied for 26th at 11 under par.
Outright winner odds: 8/1 with Sky Bet
Shane Lowry
After the success in his homeland several weeks ago, it would be hard to disagree that Shane Lowry still cannot get over his emphatic win at the Irish Open.
The 2019 Claret Jug winner claimed his second home country Open at Doonbeg, with a stellar 11-stroke victory.
Despite this fabulous triumph, the Irishman’s major outings this year have been nothing short of lacklustre, with his best finish being a tie for 28th at Royal Birkdale.
In spite of his sensational Saturday ace at Augusta, he shot a final-round 80 in The Masters.
However, Lowry will have great memories of his showing at last year’s India Championship, finishing in a tie for third.
Outright winner odds: 14/1 with Sky Bet
Eugenio Chacarra
This is a name not many golf lovers would have heard of up until this year.
The 26-year-old Spaniard has had an incredible season on the DP World Tour, and currently sits in second place in the Race to Dubai standings.
The man from Madrid has also claimed two victories this year, winning the KLM Open and the Open d’Italia.
Chacarra was formerly of LIV Golf, leaving the tour in 2025.
He clinched one solo title on the LIV tour, winning the 2022 invitational in Bangkok.
The Spaniard certainly did his home city proud last week, finishing in a tie for second.
Outright winner odds: 16/1 with Sky Bet
Patrick Reed
Lastly, it is the man who announced his return to the PGA Tour at the beginning of the year – American star Patrick Reed.
Reed has had an extremely successful 2026 on the DP World Tour, currently sitting first in the Race to Dubai standings.
The former Masters champion has also clinched the Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters this year.
Despite the huge success this year, Reed had to withdraw midway through round two at the BMW PGA at Wentworth, after injuring his wrist.
The Race to Dubai leader also battled through neck and shoulder issues during the Open de Espana last week.
Outright winner odds: 28/1 with Sky Bet
