LIV Golf pro thanks tournament officials for invite into DP World Tour event

LIV Golf pro Anirban Lahiri has thanked DP World for allowing him to compete in India this week.

The 38-year-old is one of 20 Indian players in the field for the inaugural DP World India Championship.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy and several of his European Ryder Cup team-mates are also teeing it up in Delhi from Thursday. 

Ordinarily, Lahiri would be prohibited from competing in the DP World Tour event as he plies his trade on the PIF-backed LIV with Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers.

But tournament organisers extended an invite to the former PGA Tour pro.

Lahiri told reporters on Tuesday that he found out he had been given the green light to compete at Delhi Golf Club two months ago.

It marks the second time this season he has played a professional golf event in his homeland.

The aforementioned DeChambeau and Lahiri both competed at the treacherously difficult DLF Golf & Country Club in February in the Asian Tour's International Series event.

DeChambeau surged up the leaderboard in the final round to finish second, while Lahiri posted a top-10 finish also.

"Well, without going too much into details, I'm very grateful and thankful to DP World, the company, the organisation, for extending this invite to me," Lahiri said.

"I love playing at home. I love competing in India, in DGC, especially when the field is so good.

"I relish these opportunities, so I was excited when Srivanka told me earlier in the year that this event was going to happen and I was very excited.

"I think it was just over two months ago that my management got in touch with DP World and they were very excited to have me, so I'm very happy and grateful to DP World for extending this invite to me."

"There's going to be a massive buzz"

Unsurprisingly, McIlroy is the pre-tournament favourite. The 36-year-old Ulsterman received a warm welcome when he arrived here on Monday.

He is playing the first two rounds of the tournament alongside Viktor Hovland and Ben Griffin. 

Lahiri said he used to practice with McIlroy at the Bear's Club during his PGA Tour days.

He said he's hoping McIlroy "gets his fill" of great curries this week.

"I think this is a star-studded field," Lahiri said. "It's amazing to have so many Ryder Cup stars, Rory, Tommy, especially the year that Tommy has won the FedExCup, Rory has won the grand slam. You've got Viktor, you've got so many stars this week."

He added: "I'm really excited, and like I said, this is a great sign, and hopefully we can continue to have fantastic supporters of golf like DP World who can keep bringing such amazing fields to such iconic golf courses. 

"It all bodes well for the next generation of golfers to see their idols, to see their stars live in action, to hear the ball, see the ball fly and feel excitement.

"I think it's all a very important part of being inspired, a very important part of motivating the next batch of superstars from India."