DP World Tour Players Forego Drivers at Challenging Delhi Golf Club

Players competing in this week’s DP World Tour event at Delhi Golf Club are largely opting to leave their drivers in the bag, citing the course’s extremely narrow, tree-lined fairways.

The Delhi Golf Club, known for its demanding layout, is presenting a unique challenge to golfers, forcing many to prioritize accuracy over distance. Several players, including Rory McIlroy, completed two rounds without hitting a single driver, with McIlroy choosing to leave the club out of his bag entirely. The course’s tight design makes it difficult to visualize shot shapes and landing areas, particularly on the numerous dogleg holes.

“It’s kinda sketchy trying to set aiming lines for several of the doglegs,” said player Kim, describing the obscured visibility caused by the dense trees. Despite the difficulty off the tee, Kim has performed well, gaining strokes in that area and currently ranking third in Strokes Gained: Approach, behind only Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are tied for second place. This unusual strategy highlights the importance of precision and course management in professional golf, and could influence setup for future DP World Tour events.

The tournament’s unique conditions are testing players’ adaptability and strategic thinking, potentially rewarding those who prioritize placement over power. Tournament officials have not commented on the course setup, but play will continue as scheduled.