Karandeep Kochhar Eyes DP World Tour As He Looks To Learn From Rory McIlroy, Other Superstars

At the DP World India Championship, at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC), power is not always an advantage, a world-class field featuring Major champions, Ryder Cup stars and some of the biggest names in international golf has gathered. For Indian golf, it is a rare chance to stand alongside the game's elite on home soil and show how far the country's ambitions can reach. Star golfer Karandeep Kochhar Talked to NDTV about his aim and expectations at the DP World India Championship.

Q: You are playing at the DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club, in an elite field of 144 golfers, of whom only 27 are Indians. How fortunate do you feel to be part of this field?

Karandeep Kochhar: I think it's an incredible honour to be among those 27 Indian players who are playing this week. I think it's probably the strongest field we've seen in our country so far. So, obviously, it's an honour, and I'm looking forward to competing with the best players in the world. Hopefully, I'll have a good week.

Q: What does having these elite golfers compete in India, for the second consecutive year, mean for the growth of golf in the country?

Karandeep Kochhar: I think it's really important for the growth of the game, especially in our country. We've seen a surge of Indian golfers coming onto the international scene, whether they have Indian heritage or are Indian golfers themselves. I think it's awesome that all these people come out and support our tournaments in our country. That's fantastic for the game of golf.

Hopefully, kids can come and see all these wonderful players playing this great game, and it motivates them to pick up the sport.

Speaking of the growth of the game, I feel AM Green IGPL is doing a fantastic job. We have tournaments outside the country that give young players the exposure and experience they need to eventually compete at higher levels. With all of this combined, I think the game is on a great track, and hopefully, we can keep moving forward at that rate.

Q: What are some of the nuances of the sport you hope to learn this week, playing alongside such a strong field?

Karandeep Kochhar: I had the opportunity to meet Rory McIlroy yesterday. I spoke to him for about five minutes, and hopefully, I get to play with one of these legends over the next four days.

There's so much you can learn from these players. Someone like Rory, his longevity at the highest level of the sport has to be studied. What he has done, along with players like Adam Scott, is remarkable. They've been in the world's top 10 for so many years, and they're obviously doing something that other players aren't.

If I can pick up even one or two things and learn from them for the future, that would be awesome. That's why I think it's really important for players to come out and play in these kinds of events.

Again, I'm grateful to AM Green and IGPL for giving me this opportunity to be here this week. My team, Punjab Raptors, and Krishna Group have supported me throughout, enabling me to be here and compete. It's a great opportunity to learn and improve myself.

Q: What personal targets are you hoping to achieve this week?

Karandeep Kochhar: As a professional golfer, I want to treat this tournament just like any other because, as an athlete, you want to perform at the highest level, irrespective of the stature of the tournament or the strength of the field.

As I like to say whenever I talk to my team, it's about controlling the controllables. I want to focus on whatever I can control, take it shot by shot and day by day, and hopefully have a good week.

Q: The DP World India Championship also offers a pathway to the DP World Tour. How soon do you hope to achieve that goal?

Karandeep Kochhar: As soon as possible, obviously. I'm going to be competing in the second stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School. That process has already started for me.

After Hong Kong next week, I'll be in Spain for the second stage of the DP World Tour Qualifying School. Hopefully, all the experience I've gathered over the years playing on the Asian Tour will propel me towards the DP World Tour, where I can showcase my talent.

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