DP World India Championship: All eyes on Rory McIlroy as he arrives after ticking off several milestones in memorable year

Earlier this year, McIlroy underlined his status as one of the greats by becoming only the sixth man in history to win all the four Major championships after finally earning the green jacket at Augusta Masters, also ending an 11-year wait for a Major.

A few weeks ago, he would prove to be the talisman for the European team that stormed its way to a memorable away victory at the most high-profile and contentious Ryder Cup in years, an event marked by the presence of American president Donald Trump and a boorish home crowd that threw barbs at McIlroy, his wife and playing partner.

Earlier this year, McIlroy underlined his status as one of the greats by becoming only the sixth man in history to win all the four Major championships after finally earning the green jacket at Augusta Masters, also ending an 11-year wait for a Major. (DP World India Championship)

And now during his special year, McIlroy has arrived in India for the first time, bringing the kind of global spotlight that is expected to have a first-of-its-kind uplifting effect on the game in the country. At least, that is how it has been pitched.

McIlroy said coming to India had always been on his bucket list.

“I’m excited to play in a golf tournament in a place that I’ve never played before. Eighteen-odd years into a professional career and to still be able to do things for the first time is something that excites me,” he said.

The venue is an exciting one too.

“I’ve watched tournaments on this golf course over the years on TV, and the course certainly lives up to its reputation,” the 36-year-old World No. 2 added.

The DGC may not be the toughest golf course in the country, but remains a hallowed site, certainly for this city’s elite. Exclusivity is a hallmark of the colonial-era institution; it is the kind of place where the enforcement of hierarchies passes off as tradition, and is even encouraged.

Vehicle parking for the event, for example, is reserved for members only. Paying patrons, some of whom have shelled out upwards of Rs 80,000 for high-end hospitality, must make do with public transportation or a tournament-organised shuttle service. Two-wheelers or auto-rickshaws are frowned upon anywhere close to the club situated in the middle of the national capital.

Unique challenge

Part of the DGC’s charm is also its architectural uniqueness; its tree-lined fairways make it very narrow and Mughal-era remnants are littered around the course. It will provide a challenge for some of the top golfers, who depend on swinging clean and hitting long.

McIlroy’s easy-going nature and subtle charisma may be appreciated by the larger public, but it is his aggressive and entertaining playing style, which has not changed during his transition from a prodigal teenager to chiselled veteran, that has really made him such a crowd favourite.

Much of that game is powered by innovative strokeplay as well as a long and clean driving game, both of which he will have to control on a course that rewards accuracy and consistency far more than power and creativity.

“I don’t think I’ll hit a driver this week. I just don’t feel like the risk is worth the reward. You’re hitting it into a jungle and you’re not going to be able to get it out. You can rack up a very big number very quickly,” McIlroy said, acknowledging Indian caddy-turned-pro SSP Chawrasia, who won the first of his two successive India Open titles at the DGC.

“Being strategic and being smart with your play off the tee, especially, is very important. I can see why SSP has done so well around here. You just keep hitting it down the middle, hit it 250-260 (yards) every single time, and if you do that, you can do very well around this golf course.”

World No. 5 Tommy Fleetwood, another high-profile star in the capital this week, agreed with the assessment.

“You can have a definite strategy on how you want to play the course. Hitting off the fairway makes a huge difference and you have to control your iron-play. You have to be patient and strategic. I really like such golf courses,” the Englishman said.

The eyes of the following public, however, will not be on the greens or the fairways or even the scoreboard. Expect them to be magnetically drawn to McIlroy throughout the week, victory or no victory.