Published on October 16, 2025 • 2-minute read
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland spoke with reporters at the DP World Tour India Championship in Delhi. Photo by Arun SANKAR /AFP
In his debut in India, McIlroy opted to leave his driver behind, finishing with a three-under 69. However, it was his Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry who stole the spotlight with an impressive first-round score of 64, leading the tournament on Thursday.
Lowry managed to navigate the par-five 18th hole successfully, even with a stray dog momentarily interrupting his final putt, to complete a flawless eight-under-par round that featured five consecutive birdies starting from the 11th hole.
The Irish golfer topped a crowded leaderboard, holding a one-stroke advantage over Japan’s Keita Nakajima, who also recorded eight birdies but had a setback with a bogey on the sixth, finishing with a seven-under 65.
After missing the cut in Spain last week upon his return from the Ryder Cup, Lowry was back in form, while McIlroy was making his first appearance since leading the European team to victory in New York, albeit on a course vastly different from Bethpage Black.
The picturesque Lodhi course at the historic Delhi Golf Club is a par-72 layout that measures under 7,000 yards, making it shorter by modern standards, yet it is adorned with ancient tombs from the Mughal Empire.
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The course features narrow fairways flanked by dense vegetation, reminiscent of a bygone golfing era that rewards precision over power.
“I feel like this type of golf course suits me,” said Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion. “I often complain about courses that are too wide, so when I find myself in a place like this, I need to capitalize, and I did that today. Hopefully, I can keep it going for the rest of the week.”
McIlroy, known for his long drives, acknowledged that the Delhi Golf Club was not the ideal venue for unleashing his 350-yard shots. He finished among 11 players, five strokes behind Lowry’s lead.
“The driver was out of the bag,” the five-time major champion remarked. “Probably just resting in the locker. I’m not going to hit driver here.”