India tees off on the global stage: LIV, Rory, and the rise of desi golf swagger – Opinion News

By Rahil Gangjee

Let me get this straight — when Rory McIlroy decides to show up for a golf event in India, you know we’ve done something right. No disrespect to our beloved curry (which he’ll hopefully try), but it’s not the food that brought him here. It’s golf. Yes, I said it — Indian golf is having a moment.

This October, the DP World Tour will host a full-fledged event in India, and Rory, our man from the land of Guinness and Guinness world records, will be teeing it up in Gurugram. Add to that the impending LIV Golf League debuting in India — and suddenly, the humble driving range at your neighbourhood course is starting to feel like the locker room at Augusta.

So, what’s changed?

Well, for one — the world has finally started noticing that Indian golfers aren’t just here to fill up the field. We’re here to compete. And occasionally, win. Some of us are still trying to sneak past security into the winners’ circle, but hey, baby steps.

Personally, 2025 has started off on a decent note — got my Asian Tour card back (hallelujah), and I’m swinging freely again, mostly because my physio said I can’t blame my back anymore.

Back in India, the scene is electric. Golfers like Aadil Bedi, Khalin Joshi, and Veer Ahlawat are making serious waves. The women are doing even better — Ojaswini Saraswat recently grabbed her eighth National title. I mean, I was still figuring out which tee to use at her age.

Standing on the shoulders of giants

Before we dive deeper into the current surge, it’s essential to acknowledge the trailblazers who paved the way for Indian golf. Jeev Milkha Singh, the son of legendary athlete Milkha Singh, became the first Indian golfer to join the European Tour in 1998. With four European Tour victories and a historic appearance at the Masters Tournament in 2007, Jeev brought Indian golf to the global stage.

Jyoti Randhawa, another stalwart, turned professional in 1994 and made significant strides by becoming the first Indian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2002. His consistent performances and eight Asian Tour wins showcased the depth of talent emerging from India.

Arjun Atwal, hailing from Kolkata, made history by becoming the first Indian to win on the US – based PGA Tour, clinching the Wyndham Championship in 2010. His achievements have inspired countless young golfers across the country.

The Hero Indian Open: From humble beginnings to a premier event

Established in 1964, the Hero Indian Open has long been the crown jewel of Indian golf. Over the decades, it has evolved from a national championship to a prestigious event co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours. In 2025, the tournament boasted a prize fund of $2.25 million, making it one of the most lucrative golf events on Indian soil with the eventual winner Eugenio Chacarra’s bank account swelling by over $383,000.

The Hero Indian Open’s growth reflects India’s rising stature in the global golf arena, attracting top international talent and offering significant Race to Dubai and Ryder Cup points.

What LIV means (and no, it’s not a vitamin)

Now let’s talk LIV. The rebel tour. The disruptor. The Spotify of golf. When it was launched, most of us were either confused or curious — or both. Fast forward to now, and LIV is packing stadiums and making golf look like a Netflix series.

Their India entry means we’ll finally see what golf looks like when it gets the IPL treatment: lights, music, and drama (minus the Kohli stare-downs… hopefully). Will it help Indian golf? Absolutely. Exposure, access, and most importantly — prize money that makes you forget your 3-putt on 18.

With its unconventional formats and team-based structure, LIV could just be what Indian audiences need to get emotionally invested in golf. Also, imagine the merch. We Indians love a good cap, don’t we?

Rory in India: From Augusta to Aurobindo Marg

McIlroy’s presence here isn’t just symbolic — it’s seismic. One of the most respected, well-spoken, and clutch players of our generation deciding to compete on Indian soil is basically a billboard screaming: “Golf lives here too.”

And let’s be honest. Rory doesn’t just travel for frequent flyer points. He’s coming here because the Tour believes in the Indian market. The fans, the course quality, and yes, the potential. Plus, I hear he likes spicy food. So maybe the Delhi belly will even the playing field a bit?

This wasn’t the first time a golfing legend set foot on Indian fairways. Back in 2008, the “Big Easy” himself—Ernie Els, former World No. 1—made his much-anticipated Indian debut at the Emaar MGF Indian Masters, which also marked the first-ever European Tour event held on Indian soil. As for his struggle with the notorious jhadis (thick rough) of the Delhi Golf Club—well, that’s a tale for another day. The tournament, packed with global stars, ended on a fairytale note as local favourite SSP Chawrasia clinched a stunning win, catapulting him into National stardom overnight.

And of course, there was that surreal February afternoon in 2014 when Tiger Woods, yes the Tiger Woods, teed off at Delhi Golf Club in an exhibition match hosted by his buddy and industrialist Pawan Munjal. Tiger’s visit wasn’t just a photo op; it was a defining moment for Indian golf, putting us on the radar of the sport’s biggest names.

The buzz was electric then, and with Rory arriving now, that energy’s getting a full charge.

A star is born… every few months

The grassroots scene in India is bubbling. Junior programs are popping up, academies are doing solid work, and more kids are picking up a golf club instead of a cricket bat. Now that’s not blasphemy. That’s progress.

You see it in small cities too. I recently met a 12-year-old in Pune who has a smoother swing than I did at 30. The future is out there, it just needs tournaments, sponsors, and maybe a little less obsession with engineering degrees.

Infrastructure is the missing fairway

What do we still need? More public courses. More driving ranges. More tee times that don’t cost half your salary. Golf is expensive, yes. But it doesn’t have to be inaccessible.

If LIV and DPWT plant long-term roots here, we may finally see a democratization of the sport. And who knows? The next big Indian golfer might not come from a club, but from a school PT class where the kid got lucky with a plastic 7-iron.

The domino effect

These developments also help the rest of us. More eyeballs on Indian golf means more sponsors, more media attention, and more fans. And let’s be honest, we golfers love an audience. We pretend not to, but we do.

If Rory’s putting brings 10,000 people to the course, that’s 10,000 more who might discover Aditi Ashok, Anirban Lahiri, Shubhankar Sharma or the fact that I still play! 

Final thoughts from the 19th hole

Golf in India has always been a slow burn. We’re not a fairytale story. We’re more like a Murakami novel — weird, slow, but eventually magical.

But now, with LIV and DPWT teeing off, international stars landing in Delhi, and homegrown talent on the rise, this doesn’t feel like a phase. This feels like liftoff.

So the next time someone says “Cricket is a religion in India,” just smile and hand them a golf club. Then calmly say, “Sure. But golf’s started going to church too.”

Fore real.

Rahil Gangjee is a professional golfer, sharing through this column what life on a golf course is like.

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