The DP World PGTI leader believes the $4 million DP World India Championship could decide the Order of Merit and become a catalyst for Indian golf.
Saptak Talwar may have a healthy lead in the Race to the DP World India Championship, but the 27-year-old knows the biggest test—and opportunity—is still to come.
The DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club from October 15-18 carries a $4 million purse, the largest offered in India for the second successive year. With part of the prize money counting towards the domestic Order of Merit, one strong week could transform a player’s career.
Talwar currently leads American Jhared Hack by more than INR 20 lakh and is over INR 30 lakh ahead of Honey Baisoya, the next-highest Indian. However, only one-fourth of the earnings from the DP World India Championship will count towards the domestic rankings.
“The Order of Merit is not a done deal,” Talwar said. “The DP World India Championship can be a life-changer for me and many other Indian players. Someone could perform well that week and walk away with the Merit honours.”
The stakes are especially high for Talwar because he will miss the double-purse Kapil Dev Invitational while representing India at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Yuvraj Sandhu and Veer Ahlawat complete the three-member Indian team.
The winner of the Race to the DP World India Championship will receive full DP World Tour status for 2027. The top 24 players will qualify for the Delhi event, while the top 60 will retain their DP World PGTI playing rights for next season.
Talwar initially pursued a route to the DP World Tour through the HotelPlanner Tour but returned home after falling short of the position he had targeted.
“I decided to come back and play on the DP World PGTI, where I was leading,” he said. “Now there is another pathway through the Order of Merit.”
Delhi Golf Club holds special significance for Talwar, who grew up playing its B Course and attended junior clinics featuring international stars such as Ernie Els.
He will now compete there alongside Rory McIlroy, defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Major winners Ryan Fox, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson.
Shubhankar Sharma, Anirban Lahiri, Sandhu and Ahlawat will be among the other leading Indians in the field.
“This tournament can be a catalyst for Indian golf,” Talwar said. “We have several good players who have not yet converted their ability into international wins. One victory could ignite that fire.”
Talwar won his second professional title at the Indo-Rama Ventures Open earlier this season and also finished runner-up in the HotelPlanner Tour event in India.
Photo – DPWIC
