Rory McIlroy has confirmed he will play in India for the first time at the inaugural DP World India Championship in October.
The Northern Irishman will compete in the tournament, scheduled for October 16-19, which marks a significant addition to his global playing schedule.
This announcement comes as McIlroy makes his first public comments since his disappointing performance at the PGA Championship last week.
The tournament boasts a £2.9 million prize fund, the largest ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India.
Rory McIlroy endured a difficult time at the PGA Championships last week
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It will serve as the penultimate meeting in the Race to Dubai, a title McIlroy claimed last year.
The DP World Tour launched the India Championship this season with hopes of attracting the world's best golfers and McIlroy's participation aligns with the tour's ambitions to raise golf's profile globally.
McIlroy expressed enthusiasm about his upcoming Indian debut, stating: "I'm excited to not only tee it up in India for the first time but also visit a country that I've always wanted to explore.
"I'm proud to play in the inaugural DP World India Championship. I've always enjoyed playing a global schedule and as I have previously said, there is tremendous potential to grow golf further in the country.
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Rory McIlroy said he was 'excited' to visit India, a country he has 'always wanted to explore'
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"This is a great opportunity, and I can't wait to play in front of Indian golf fans."
Tournament officials welcomed McIlroy's participation enthusiastically. Yuvraj Narayan, Group Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer at DP World, said: "We are delighted to welcome Rory McIlroy to the DP World India Championship.
"Having a player of his calibre underscores the commitment both we and the DP World Tour have to the success of this tournament.
"Our mission to support the growth of golf from the grassroots remains central to our global golf vision, and hosting a global icon like Rory in India is a proud milestone in that journey."
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McIlroy failed to build on the momentum of his Masters triumph at the PGA Championship last week.
The 36-year-old finished tied for 47th with a three-over-par performance across the four days.
He barely made the cut for the final two rounds before posting consecutive rounds of 72 over the weekend.
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Rory McIlroy finished the PGA Championship tied for 47th
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The five-time major champion struggled throughout what proved to be a challenging tournament for him.
This announcement regarding the India Championship marks McIlroy's first public comments since his abrupt departure from the PGA Championship, where the five-time major champion packed his clubs and left without attending the press conference facility.
McIlroy has recently been spotted in Bilbao to support his beloved Manchester United in their Europa League final clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
The Northern Irishman will be hoping for a better performance from his team than he was able to provide at the PGA Championship last week.
