DP WORLD INDIA CHAMPIONSHIP BRINGS TOUR TO DELHI

The DP World India Championship is taking place at Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi from 15 to 18 October, with HSBC joining as a premium partner. The tournament has a US$4 million prize fund and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India. Tommy Fleetwood is defending his title in a field that includes Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Patrick Reed. Indian professionals are also competing in the event.

The championship forms part of the DP World Tour’s Back 9 phase, with Race to Dubai points available ahead of the season-ending play-offs. Delhi Golf Club’s short, narrow course has led some players, including McIlroy and Ryan Fox, to leave the driver out of their plans. Kevin Pietersen, working as a broadcaster at the event, asked Bob MacIntyre why leading golfers could not hit their drivers straight. MacIntyre said the course demanded “accuracy, a bit of finesse, a bit of shape”.

MacIntyre said he had kept his driver because he considered driving a strength of his game. He said he would tee the ball lower at Delhi Golf Club than on a wider course. His bag this week contains a seven-wood, a rescue wood and a four-iron, but no three-wood. HSBC’s agreement adds financial services to a championship sponsorship portfolio that also spans technology, aviation, real estate and consumer goods.