DP World India Championship Lotus Trophy unveiled in Srinagar, marking the season’s second half and the region’s rising stature in Indian golf

Srinagar, August 2, 2026: The Government of Jammu & Kashmir through Jammu & Kashmir Tourism together with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), the official sanctioning body of men’s professional golf in India, today jointly announced the fifth edition of the J&K Open. The tournament will be staged at the majestic Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar, from August 4 – 7, 2026, with a field featuring leading Indian professionals including Saptak Talwar, Veer Ahlawat, Om Prakash Chouhan, Manu Gandas, defending champion Shaurya Bhattacharya and Angad Cheema, to name a few.

The total prize purse for the event has been raised from INR 50 lakh to INR 1 crore.

The J&K Open 2026 is supported by Event Title Partner J&K Tourism and hosted at the Royal Springs Golf Course. The tournament is principally backed by global smart logistics provider DP World, serving as PGTI’s Umbrella Partner, alongside Tour Partners Axis Bank, Amul, Amrutanjan Enerlyte, Campa, Air India Maharaja Club and Kalyani. Their collective participation reflects a shared commitment to Indian professional golf and to showcasing Jammu & Kashmir’s growing stature as a destination for the sport.

The second half of the 2026 DP World PGTI season officially began with the unveiling of the DP World India Championship Lotus Trophy in Srinagar on Sunday, in the esteemed presence of Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Honourable Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir; Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager Subcontinent (India), DP World; Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI; Renowned Jammu & Kashmir cricketer Auqib Nabi, (popularly known as the Baramulla Express), a right-arm medium-fast bowler and handy lower-order batsman from Jammu & Kashmir and leading Indian professional golfer and DP World PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar.

Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Honourable Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, said, “We are delighted to welcome the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India back to the magnificent Royal Springs Golf Course for the fifth edition of the J&K Open. This tournament is much more than a sporting event—it is a celebration of Jammu & Kashmir’s unmatched natural beauty, warm hospitality and growing stature as one of India’s premier golf tourism destinations. Through this partnership with the DP World PGTI, we are committed to showcasing Jammu & Kashmir’s world-class golfing infrastructure to players, visitors and audiences from across the country and beyond. We are confident that the J&K Open 2026 will further strengthen the region’s appeal as a year-round destination for golf, adventure and leisure tourism while creating valuable opportunities for the local tourism and hospitality sectors.”

Speaking on the occasion, Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager Subcontinent (India), DP World, said, “As a global smart logistics provider, DP World sees the J&K Open as a platform to showcase Jammu & Kashmir’s growing prominence in Indian golf while highlighting its potential as a destination for tourism, trade and investment. By bringing world-class golf to the region, we aim to support greater visibility, create new opportunities and contribute to its growth as a preferred destination for business and sport.”

said, “The return of the J&K Open to the spectacular Royal Springs Golf Course is a landmark moment for the DP World PGTI and for Indian golf. We are delighted that this Robert Trent Jones Junior Design golf course will host the opening event of the DP World PGTI season’s second half, setting the stage for another exciting and highly competitive season. We thank the Honourable Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Shri Omar Abdullah, the Government of J&K and J&K Tourism for their invaluable support in bringing this event back. The J&K Open has always been one of the most anticipated tournaments on our calendar and it underscores our commitment to expanding the reach of professional golf while creating more opportunities for our players to compete at world-class venues across the country. We look forward to an outstanding week of golf that will further strengthen Jammu & Kashmir’s reputation as a premier destination for sport and tourism.”

At the J&K Open, DP World anchored a panel discussion (Tee-Side Talk) with Nasir Aslam Wani, Auqib Nabi, Hemant Kumar Ruia and Amandeep Johl. The conversation highlighted how global partnerships can help shape Jammu & Kashmir’s future by linking trade, tourism and sport. It presented the DP World – PGTI collaboration as a catalyst for visibility, while reflecting on the region’s wider potential to emerge as a preferred destination for commerce and worldclass golf.

The tournament field will also feature leading professionals from Jammu & Kashmir including Arindam Sudan, Fayaz Ahmed Langoo, Adnan Mubarik Rah and Pawan Parihar.

The tournament is part of J&K Tourism’s initiative of promoting golf tourism in the region. J&K is blessed with some spectacular golf courses such as Jammu Tawi Golf Course, Royal Springs Golf Course (Srinagar), Pahalgam Golf Course (Lidder Valley) and Gulmarg Golf Club. These courses provide a mesmerizing experience to golfers.

The Royal Springs Golf Course is ranked among the most beautiful courses in Asia. The course designed by Robert Trent Jones II has taken full advantage of the undulating foot spurs of the Zabarwan Mountains that descend onto the shores of the famed Dal Lake. The 6445 metres course at par of 72, offers a challenge to all levels of players. The course designer has crafted out of the natural setting a combination of aesthetic delight and golfing pleasure.