Five-year partnership through 2031 will establish an annual professional golf tournament, with the inaugural edition scheduled for January 12–15, 2027, at Mumbai’s Willingdon Sports Club and a prize purse of ₹2 crore.
MUMBAI, (Economy India): The DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI) and Essar Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Essar Group, have announced the launch of the Shri Shashi Ruia Memorial Golf Championship, a new annual tournament aimed at strengthening India’s professional golf calendar.
The championship will honour the legacy of the late Shri Shashi Ruia, co-founder of Essar Group alongside Shri Ravi Ruia. The tournament will be organised annually under a five-year partnership between DP World PGTI and Essar Foundation, continuing through 2031.
The inaugural edition is scheduled to take place from January 12 to 15, 2027, at Mumbai’s historic Willingdon Sports Club. The championship will feature a prize purse of ₹2 crore, while the Pro-Am event is scheduled for January 10, 2027.
Five-Year Partnership to Support Indian Professional Golf
The partnership establishes a recurring platform for professional golfers in India, bringing competition to Mumbai, the country’s financial capital.
According to the organisers, the championship is intended to provide opportunities for established professionals and emerging talent to compete at a high level while increasing the visibility of professional golf.
The five-year commitment also provides a foundation for developing the tournament into a regular fixture on the DP World PGTI calendar.
Kapil Dev, President of DP World PGTI, described the launch as an important milestone for Indian professional golf.
“The launch of the Shri Shashi Ruia Memorial Golf Championship marks an important milestone for Indian professional golf,” Dev said, adding that the partnership would help showcase professional golf to a wider audience, strengthen the sport’s presence in Mumbai and create greater visibility for Indian golfing talent.
He also said the organisers hoped to build the championship into a prestigious event while commemorating the contributions of Essar Group’s co-founders to business and industry.
Essar Foundation to Honour Shashi Ruia’s Passion for Golf
For the Ruia family, the championship will serve as a tribute to Shashi Ruia’s personal connection with the sport.
Prashant Ruia, Group Chief Executive of Essar Group, said golf was a game his father genuinely loved and an opportunity for him to connect with people.
“Golf was a game my father truly loved. It was his happy time, where he connected with so many people over a round of golf,” Prashant Ruia said.
Recalling accompanying his father to golf courses and listening to his stories, he said the family was pleased to honour his memory through the championship and hoped the initiative would encourage more people to take up the game.
The tournament connects the legacy of an industrial entrepreneur with a sporting platform intended to support professional golfers and the wider development of the game in India.
Championship to Offer ₹2 Crore Prize Purse
The ₹2-crore prize purse is a key feature of the inaugural tournament, providing a substantial competitive platform for participating professionals.
Amandeep Johl, CEO of DP World PGTI, said Essar Group’s five-year commitment represented a significant vote of confidence in the future of Indian professional golf.
He said the prize purse would help raise the level of competition and provide a platform for established professionals and emerging players to demonstrate their abilities.
Johl also highlighted the opportunity to connect professional golf with Mumbai’s business and enterprise ecosystem. The organisers’ long-term vision is to establish the championship as a marquee event on the DP World PGTI calendar.
The names of participating professionals are expected to be announced closer to the tournament.
Essar Foundation Emphasises Long-Term Sports Development
Amit Bajaj, Managing Director and Global Head – Corporate Affairs and Public Policy at Essar, said the five-year partnership reflected the foundation’s commitment to the long-term development of professional golf in India.
Through the championship, the organisation aims to create a lasting platform for leading professionals and emerging talent to compete and develop their careers.
The initiative also aligns with Essar Foundation’s wider community engagement work, which includes programmes in health, education, livelihood generation, women’s empowerment, sports, environmental stewardship and local infrastructure development.
The foundation’s involvement places the championship within the group’s broader philanthropic and social development activities.
Willingdon Sports Club to Host Inaugural Edition
Founded in 1917, Willingdon Sports Club is among Mumbai’s established sporting institutions. Its 18-hole golf course was established in 1933 and is located in the heart of South Mumbai.
The venue will host the inaugural championship from January 12 to 15, 2027, with the Pro-Am event scheduled for January 10.
The club’s location and longstanding sporting heritage provide the setting for the launch of a tournament that the organisers intend to develop over the five-year partnership.
DP World PGTI’s Role in Indian Professional Golf
DP World PGTI is the official governing and sanctioning body for men’s professional golf in India. It is a recognised member of the International Golf Federation and the International Federation of PGA Tours and maintains a strategic alliance with the DP World Tour.
Its events offer Official World Golf Ranking points, linking Indian professional tournaments with the international golfing ecosystem.
The launch of the Shri Shashi Ruia Memorial Golf Championship adds a new event to the tour calendar and creates another platform for Indian professionals to compete for prize money and ranking opportunities.
A New Annual Fixture on India’s Golf Calendar
The five-year partnership between DP World PGTI and Essar Foundation combines a tribute to Shashi Ruia’s legacy with a long-term commitment to professional sport.
With a ₹2-crore prize purse, a prominent Mumbai venue and a planned annual format through 2031, the championship is intended to provide continuity for players and audiences alike.
Its inaugural edition in January 2027 will mark the beginning of the partnership, with the organisers aiming to build the event’s stature and contribute to the continued growth and reach of professional golf in India.
About Essar Group
Essar is a global conglomerate with interests across energy, infrastructure, metals and mining, and technology and retail. With more than five decades of entrepreneurial experience, the group says it has executed investments exceeding US$30 billion, generates approximately US$15 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 7,000 people worldwide.
Through Essar Foundation, the group supports initiatives in health, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, sports, environmental stewardship and local infrastructure.
About DP World Professional Golf Tour of India
DP World PGTI is the official governing and sanctioning body for men’s professional golf in India. It is a recognised member of the International Golf Federation and the International Federation of PGA Tours and has a strategic alliance with the DP World Tour. Its events offer Official World Golf Ranking points. DP World is the tour’s Title Partner and Official Umbrella Partner. The organisation is led by President Kapil Dev.
(Economy India)
