Delhi, India: Five-time Major champion Rory McIlroy’s appearance in this week’s DP World India Championship is ‘a big step forward for golf in the country’.

“It’s inspiring to see world-class golf come to India – a big step forward for the game and for fans across the country,” said Rishi Narain, Head – Events, Sponsorship and Membership at the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF). “Moments like these remind us how much potential golf has to grow here.”

Delhi-based Narain, a gold medallist at the 1982 Asian Games and the first Indian to play NCAA college golf in the United States, had the privilege of playing alongside McIlroy during Wednesday’s Pro-Am at the storied Delhi Golf Club.

“It was an unforgettable experience sharing the fairways with Rory. We chatted all the way round. An amazing lifetime memory,” added Narain, a key figure in many areas of the Indian golf industry, including publishing, player management and event promotion and management.

For his part, McIlroy, an advocate of furthering golf’s globalisation, is clearly enjoying his first visit to India.

McIlroy, who won the Masters in April to became only the fifth golfer in history to complete the Grand Slam, said: “I’m excited to play a golf tournament in a place that I’ve never played before – 18-odd years into a professional career and to still be able to do things for the first time is something that excites me.

“I’ve watched tournaments on this golf course over the years on TV and, you know, the course certainly lives up to its reputation. I’m so excited to get out there and take it on this week.

“Just excited to get going and can’t wait to play in front of a lot of Indian fans that will hopefully be out there over the next few days.”

Confirmed to compete at the DP World Tour Play-Offs next month in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, McIlroy has further shown his drive to test his game as far and wide as possible by signing up to compete in the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne from December 4-7.

He said: “I would say as time goes on, my schedule will get hopefully more international. Because that’s what I’ve enjoyed doing. I’ve always said that.

“But I think over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed it even more. I’ve enjoyed the travel. I’ve enjoyed getting to play in front of people that I’ve never played in front of before.”