DeChambeau, golf’s biggest superstar, is coming to India
Bangkok: For Indian golf fans, 2025 will be a very happy new year. For the first time since the sport was introduced by the British in 1829, a reigning major champion is expected in the country. Bryson DeChambeau, the US Open winner at Pinehurst No. 2 in June this year, will almost certainly appear in the as-yet-unannounced International Series India.
It is the first time that an International Series event – the 10 increased tournaments announced for 2022 – will be held in India. It is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and supported by LIV Golf.
The official announcement of the International Series India is expected soon, but it was the talk of the driving range last week during the International Series Thailand at the Thai Country Club and also during the Hero Women’s Indian Open held at the DLF Golf & Country Club. The Gurugram course will also host the International Series from January 30 to February 2.
Real estate giant DLF is likely to be the main sponsor of the tournament, which is expected to feature several LIV Golf stars. The 2025 LIV season begins a week later in Saudi Arabia with LIV Golf Riyadh. India offers them a perfect chance to get a few rounds of competition in before Riyadh and also makes logistical sense as New Delhi is only a five hour flight away and the proximity helps with time zone adjustment. The total prize money in India is at least $2 million.
DeChambeau told Hindustan Times during the LIV team championship in Dallas: “I am aware that Baan (Anirban Lahiri, who is part of his Crushers team) will be involved and we have had some discussions about it.”
“It will be a very important week for him. I will fully support him and if everything works out, I am very happy about the opportunity to play in India. I’ve never been there, but it’s a country that fascinated me. I have always loved being a global player and I really enjoy playing in as many countries as possible.”
It’s not officially confirmed yet, but the entire Crushers team (DeChambeau, Lahiri, Paul Casey and Charles Howell III) will likely take part in the tournament.
“I think we’re almost there. There are just a few little things that we have to go all out on,” said Lahiri, the only Indian and Asian player signed in the LIV Golf League since its launch in 2022.
“But yeah, I think it will be huge for Indian golf fans to have Bryson involved. Single-handedly, with what he does on the golf course and beyond through his social media channels and his interaction with fans, he has brought millions of new fans to our sport. I think we can all agree that he is the most popular golfer in the world right now.”
The two-time major champion has captivated fans and pundits over the years with his unorthodox but extremely effective style. He is nicknamed “The Scientist” because he used physics, chemistry and biology to improve his game. He is now also a YouTube sensation for his entertaining and educational video content. It has gained over 1.6 million subscribers in the last two years, surpassing even the PGA Tour, which has 1.5 million subscribers despite all the rights and decades of business.
Rahul Singh, Head of International Series, said: “At the moment all I can say is that we have had some very good discussions.
“Historically, India has been a very important destination for the Asian tour. As LIV Golf continues to expand its global presence, India is a logical market for an International Series stop. We look forward to the opportunity to bring the series to India in the near future.”
With the International Series India, two major international tournaments would be held in the country in two months, with the Hero Indian Open (part of the DP World Tour) expected to be played in the last week of March. The DP World Tour has not yet officially announced its 2025 schedule.
The proposed dates have advantages and disadvantages. While it will likely generate a lot of interest from LIV Golf League players, the shorter daylight saving time will impact the number of players on the field.
In 2024, the International Series Oman was held a week before LIV Golf Jeddah and several teams were represented in Muscat. This included Chilean number 2 player Joaquin Niemann and his entire Torque time, as well as all members of the Stingers GC led by Louis Oosthuizen.
Given the shorter days at the start of the year, the field is likely to be limited to 120, as opposed to the 144 that make it to the Hero Indian Open in the last week of March.
