For the first time ever, Rory McIlroy is set to compete in India.
The magnitude of the occasion ensured McIlroy was greeted with a hero’s welcome by those at his hotel in New Delhi.
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In a picture shared on X, a number of hotel staffers stood in line as McIlroy walked in with an orange necklace.
McIlroy is in town to compete at the DP World India Championship, which will be held at Delhi Golf Club.
Who is competing at the DP World India Championship?
The Northern Irishman is one of several big names in Delhi for the event, with fellow Europe Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Viktor Hovland among the field.
So too is Europe’s Ryder Cup skipper Luke Donald.
Several of the triumphant Ryder Cup stars may have been lured in by the tasty prize packet on offer for victory.
What is the prize money on offer at the DP World India Championship?
The event boasts a total purse of $4million (£3m), with the winner to take home a cool $680k (£510k).
No tournament in India has ever had as much prize money on the line, emphasising the magnitude of the occasion.
That’s not the only piece of history being made in Delhi.
McIlroy’s participation means he is the first reigning Masters champion to feature at a tournament on Indian soil.
Speaking earlier in the year, McIlroy expressed his excitement to not only compete in India for the first time, but to pay a visit to a nation he’d ‘always wanted to explore.’
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The Northern Irishman goes to India having won three of his five Ryder Cup games at Bethpage BlackCredit: Getty
“I’m proud to play in the inaugural DP World India Championship,” McIlroy said.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing a global schedule and as I have previously said, there is tremendous potential to grow golf further in the country.
“This is a great opportunity, and I can’t wait to play in front of Indian golf fans.”
Where does McIlroy sit in the DP World Tour rankings?
Along with the six-figure payday on offer, McIlroy goes into the Delhi event hoping to build on his 393-point lead at the top of the DP World Tour rankings.
McIlroy, who has competed in eight DP World Tour events this season, has 4,084.56 ranking points to his name.
It is a sizeable buffer between him and Marco Penge, who is second with 3,691.24 points.
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McIlroy’s last win on the DP World Tour was at the Irish Open in SeptemberCredit: Getty
The DP World India Championship is the fourth-last event on the DP World Tour calendar for the season, as an event in South Korea precedes two play-off events in the UAE.
Should McIlroy win the Race to Dubai this season, it would mark the seventh time he has done so in his career.
However, he would remain one shy of the record holder Colin Montgomerie, who has eight Order of Merit titles to his name.