DP World India Championship: Six Indian Golfers Make the Cut as Om Prakash Chauhan Leads the Home Challenge

Six Indian golfers have made the cut at the DP World India Championship following the conclusion of the second round, keeping the home challenge alive as the tournament heads into the weekend. 

Om Prakash Chauhan leads the Indian contingent at four-under par, while Yuvraj Sandhu and Anirban Lahiri are also positioned to push for a strong finish. Saptak Talwar, Shiv Kapur and Karandeep Kochhar complete the list of Indian golfers who have progressed beyond the cut. With the third round scheduled to begin on Saturday, the six will look to capitalise on the opportunity to compete against a strong international field at one of the season’s prominent events on Indian soil.

The second round, however, was disrupted by fading light, leaving several leading contenders with holes still to complete. The interruption followed a weather-affected opening day, when heavy rain and thunderstorms had forced a five-hour suspension.

Chauhan heads the Indian challenge at four-under par after two rounds, placing himself among the selected players within striking distance of the leading group.

His position gives India a significant home interest heading into the weekend. With the tournament’s international field featuring established names from Europe and beyond, Chauhan will aim to maintain his scoring consistency and improve his position as the competition enters its decisive stages. Yuvraj Sandhu and Anirban Lahiri are next among the Indians, both sitting at one-under par. Lahiri brings considerable international experience to the field, while Sandhu will have an opportunity to test himself against a competitive lineup over the remaining rounds.

Saptak Talwar, Shiv Kapur and Karandeep Kochhar have all made the cut at even par. Although they have ground to recover against the leaders, progressing into the weekend keeps their chances of a higher finish alive.

The six Indian qualifiers will now need to balance patience with aggression as they look to make the most of the remaining rounds.

The international leaderboard remains tightly contested, with Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, Spain’s Angel Hidalgo and Poland’s Adrian Meronk completing their second rounds at eight-under par. Belgium’s Thomas Detry is also tied at the top, despite having played only seven holes before fading light halted proceedings.

England’s Eddie Pepperell and Todd Clements are one shot behind the leading group at seven-under par after completing their second rounds. Spain’s Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra is also at seven-under, leaving a competitive group within reach of the lead.

Detry’s unfinished round adds another layer of uncertainty to the leaderboard. With several players still required to complete their second-round schedules, the standings could change before the third round gets fully underway.

Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin, who began the second round just one shot off the lead, had slipped to five-under par after seven holes. His position reflects how quickly the leaderboard can shift during a round, particularly when players have different numbers of holes remaining.

McIlroy, Fleetwood and MacIntyre Face Ground to Recover

Among the biggest names in the field, Rory McIlroy remains four-under par and tied for 17th after completing four holes of his second round. The six-time major champion began his round with an eagle, offering an early indication of his scoring potential, before recording three pars. Play was then suspended as fading light brought the day’s action to an end.

McIlroy is four shots behind the leading score, but the unfinished round leaves him with an opportunity to make further progress when play resumes. England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre are also four-under par after completing four holes of their second rounds. Both remain within range of the leading group, although they will need to produce strong golf over their remaining holes to challenge for the title.

Justin Rose sits at even par after five holes of his second round, while England’s Luke Donald is one-over after six holes. Ireland’s Shane Lowry is further back at three-over after six holes. With multiple players still to finish their rounds, the leaderboard remains provisional in practical terms, and Saturday’s resumption will be important in establishing the final positions heading into the third round.

The tournament has faced repeated interruptions because of the weather and changing light conditions. Thursday’s opening round was suspended for five hours following heavy rain and thunderstorms, while the second round also had to be halted before all players could complete 18 holes.

The second round is scheduled to resume at 02:45 BST on Saturday, equivalent to 7:15 AM IST. The third round is also scheduled to take place on Saturday, making the day particularly demanding for players who must complete outstanding holes before progressing to the next round.

Managing recovery and maintaining concentration will therefore be important, especially for those who have played fewer holes than their rivals.

Indian Challenge Enters Crucial Weekend

For India, having six golfers make the cut provides a solid platform for the remainder of the championship. Chauhan leads the way at four-under, with Sandhu and Lahiri close behind, while Talwar, Kapur and Kochhar remain in contention to improve their positions.

The international leaderboard is crowded, and the unfinished rounds mean the battle for the title remains open. Luiten, Hidalgo and Meronk have established a strong position, but Detry and the chasing group will have opportunities to respond.

The focus now shifts to Saturday, when the completion of the second round and the start of the third will begin to separate the leading contenders from the rest of the field. For the Indian golfers, the immediate objective is clear: convert a successful cut into a competitive weekend and give the home crowd a reason to follow the closing stages closely.