Arnold Palmer Invitational champion Akshay Bhatia will be among the top draws for the 2026 Hero Indian Open later this month.
By Rahul Banerji
Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Akshay Bhatia is set to headline the Hero Indian Open 2026 field that will also offer a record $2.55 million as a prize fund.
The national Open, sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Indian Golf Union will be held from March 26 to 29 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon.
Indian American star Bhatia, 24, came through a playoff against Daniel Berger in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday to win the $20 million Signature PGA Tour event with a dazzling late run at Bay Hill.
Bhatia is a global ambassador of Indian Open sponsor Hero MotoCorp and will be making his first appearance in India.
The 2026 edition will offer prize purse that has gone up from $2.25 million to $2.55 million, it was revealed at the event launch in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Hero MotoCorp has been title sponsor of the event since 2005 and the association now enters its third decade, a record for any event in India and Asia.
Besides Bhatia, who won his third PGA Tour title on Sunday, with the iconic Arnold Palmer Invitational, the field includes another brand ambassador in Rayhan Thomas and Italy’s Francesco Molinari.
Hot property
The left-handed Bhatia, who is keen to play in India, is considered one of the most talented names in world golf.
After a stellar amateur career, Bhatia turned professional at 17. Besides three wins on the PGA Tour, he has topped a Korn Ferry Tour event and is the youngest to play the Tour Championship in the past two years.
He has also featured in the Masters in both 2024 and 2025.
Another Hero MotoCorp Brand Ambassador, Rayhan Thomas, who has been on the Korn Ferry Tour for last two years has also confirmed for the event.
Molinari, another three-time PGA Tour winner, became the first Italian to win a major when he triumphed at the 147th Open Championship in 2018.
The six-time DP World Tour winner has also represented Europe in three victorious Ryder Cup teams in 2010, 2012 and 2018 – where he secured the winning point at Le Golf National in Paris.
The list of confirmed players includes defending champion Eugenio Chacarra of Spain, and Thomas Detry of Belgium, winner of the Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour in 2025.
Also, in the field are current season DP World Tour winners Casey Jarvis of South Africa, who won two successive events recently, Spain’s Nacho Elvira and Germany’s Freddy Schott among others.
Last year, Chacarra became the first Spanish winner of the open, beating 2024 winner Keita Nakajima by two shots.
Home stars
Former runner-up Veer Ahlawat, 2025 India no. 1 Yuvraj Sandhu, part domestic tour topper Manu Gandas, and the fast-rising Shaurya Bhattacharya, will be among the top Indian names in the field.
Said Hero MotoCorp executive vice-president Sanjay Bhan, “The association between Hero MotoCorp and the Hero Indian Open has grown stronger with every passing year and today stands as a proud partnership spanning more than two decades.
“With an enhanced prize purse and a world-class field, we are delighted to usher in another exciting edition. We look forward to welcoming players and fans for what promises to be truly memorable week of golf.”
Added DPWT chief tournament and operations officer Ben Cowen,“We are looking forward to returning to India for another edition of the historic Hero Indian Open.
“We are grateful for the continued partnership with Hero MotoCorp and Dr. Pawan Munjal which has seen India’s national open go from strength to strength and we are anticipating another exciting week in Delhi.”
The Hero Indian Open was first played in 1964 and has a rich legacy as it has has grown in stature to become a flagship event for golf in the region.
The DLF Golf and Country Club is one of the toughest golf courses on the DP World Tour schedule and is once again poised to be a formidable test for the field.
Also read: Chacarra wins Hero Indian Open as its first Spanish champion
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