Golf: Saptak Talwar, Veer Ahlawat and Yuvraj Sandhu eye breakthrough at DP World India Championship

New Delhi, October 12: Competing alongside some of Asia's finest golfers in Japan has given Saptak Talwar, Veer Ahlawat and Yuvraj Sandhu a taste of what it takes to perform on the international stage. Now, the Indian trio will look to turn those lessons into results when they tee off at the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club from October 15 to 18.

For the three Indians, the tournament presents an opportunity to measure their progress against an elite international field, with the experience of representing India at the recent Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya adding another dimension to their preparations.

India's men's golf team returned from Japan without a medal, but Talwar and Ahlawat finished tied sixth in the individual competition, while Sandhu secured a tied-24th finish. The team also placed sixth.

The competition brought them up against players of the calibre of South Korea's Tom Kim, a PGA Tour winner, and Japan's Keita Nakajima, a former Indian Open champion who is set to move to the PGA Tour.

The challenge in Delhi, however, will be on an even bigger stage. The DP World India Championship features a star-studded field led by Rory McIlroy, defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Open champion Ryan Fox, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Patrick Reed, Luke Donald and PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai.

With a prize fund of US$4 million, the tournament boasts the biggest purse for a DP World Tour event in India. Co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and DP World PGTI, it also offers the country's leading professionals a valuable opportunity to test themselves against some of the world's best golfers.

Saptak Talwar: India's leading domestic player eyes another step up

Talwar heads to Delhi after a season that has established him as the leading player on the domestic circuit. The 27-year-old tops the DP World PGTI Order of Merit after winning the Indorama Ventures Open and recording several other strong finishes.

His season has included a runner-up finish at the DP World-PGTI Open, co-sanctioned with the HotelPlanner Tour, and third place at the Andhra Open. He has also registered top-10 finishes at the J&K Open, Kolar and Chennai, along with several other top-15 results.

Just before the Asian Games, Talwar and Ahlawat shared third place at the Bengaluru Open, underlining their consistency heading into the international assignment.

Talwar carried that form into Japan, opening with a four-under-par 66 to sit third on the leaderboard. He followed it with a 68 and closed the tournament with another 66 to finish tied sixth.

The result provided more than a strong finish. Four rounds of competition under the pressure of representing India offered him valuable experience as he prepares to compete against an even deeper field in Delhi.

His outings on the HotelPlanner Tour this year have also exposed him to a higher level of competition, experience he will hope to build on as he pursues a place on the DP World Tour next season.

The DP World India Championship offers him an opportunity to demonstrate that his domestic consistency can translate into performances against established international professionals.

Veer Ahlawat: Building momentum after a consistent season

Ahlawat, the 2024 PGTI Order of Merit champion, has enjoyed another productive season, even without a victory.

He has recorded nine top-10 finishes in 12 starts, including seven top-five results. His performances have featured top-10 finishes at the Telangana Open, Telangana Golconda Masters, Chennai Open and Nava Raipur Open, before he shared third place with Talwar at Bengaluru.

His Asian Games campaign also demonstrated his ability to respond under pressure.

After opening with a 71 and following it with a 68, Ahlawat produced a five-under-par 65 in the third round to move into contention. He then closed with a 67 to finish tied sixth alongside Talwar at nine-under 271.

The recovery after a relatively modest opening round was an encouraging sign, particularly as the competition intensified towards the finish.

Like Talwar, Ahlawat has also gained experience on the HotelPlanner Tour this year. The combination of a strong domestic campaign and exposure to international competition should prove useful as he prepares for the challenge at Delhi Golf Club.

For Ahlawat, the immediate objective will be to carry that late-season momentum into a tournament where the quality of the opposition will demand consistency across all four rounds.

Yuvraj Sandhu: DP World Tour experience could prove decisive

Sandhu arrives with a different set of experiences. The 2025 PGTI Order of Merit winner earned promotion to the DP World Tour and has spent much of the current season adapting to the demands of competing regularly in Europe.

Although his campaign has been challenging, he produced an encouraging breakthrough just before the Asian Games, finishing tied 13th at the FedEx Open de France.

Rounds of 67, 68, 69 and 69 gave him a total of 11-under-par 273, making it his best result on the DP World Tour this season.

Sandhu travelled directly to Nagoya after the tournament. With inclement weather restricting his practice time, he had little opportunity to prepare for the Asian Games, but completed the competition and gained another international experience.

His European campaign could be particularly valuable at the DP World India Championship. Having already experienced the standard required to compete on the DP World Tour, Sandhu knows what awaits him in Delhi.

The difference this time will be the familiarity of the surroundings. Playing in India, on a course closer to home and in front of local golf fans, offers him an opportunity to draw on his international experience while competing in conditions he knows better.

Can India's leading golfers make their mark in Delhi?

For all three players, the DP World India Championship represents another step in their development.

The Asian Games gave them an opportunity to compete for national honours, handle the pressure of a major multi-sport event and test themselves against accomplished international opponents. The Delhi tournament will demand a different level of precision and consistency, with a deeper field and the attention that accompanies one of India's biggest golf events.

Their routes to this stage have been different. Talwar has emerged as the leading player on the domestic circuit, Ahlawat has built his campaign on repeated high finishes, and Sandhu has been learning the demands of full-time competition on the DP World Tour.

That variety could make the Indian challenge particularly interesting. They will also have company from established Indian professionals such as Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri, alongside emerging names including Khalin Joshi and Shaurya Bhattacharya.

While the international stars will command much of the attention, the presence of a strong Indian contingent gives local fans plenty to follow. For the country's professionals, the week offers a chance to measure their progress, compete against elite opposition and potentially produce a result that can further strengthen Indian golf's standing.

The Asian Games did not deliver a medal for the men's team, but the lessons from Japan could yet prove valuable. At Delhi Golf Club, Talwar, Ahlawat and Sandhu will have an immediate opportunity to put them into practice.

Tickets for the DP World India Championship, scheduled from October 15 to 18 at Delhi Golf Club, are available on District.