Hero Indian Open: DP World Tour Fantasy Ones to Watch

The DP World Tour heads to the internationally renowned DLF Golf & Country Club for the first of two events this year in India.

Boasting two of the top five hardest holes last season, as determined by the Fortinet Threat Score, a fierce challenge lies in wait.

Six of this season's winners so far are teeing it up, with Casey Jarvis, Dan Bradbury and David Puig all in the top ten on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World.

Joining them are PGA TOUR star Akshay Bhatia, a Hero MotoCorp global ambassador, and Major Championship winner Francesco Molinari, along with winner last time out Jordan Gumberg.

The home fans will also have plenty to cheer, with 2025 Professional Golf Tour of India Order of Merit winner Yuvraj Sandhu and two-time DP World Tour winner Shubhankar Sharma among 30 players from India in the field.

From insight into the week’s most-picked players among Fantasy managers, to our ones to watch, we run the rule ahead of Thursday’s deadline to pick your team.

Who are the most backed players?

Bhatia, a three-time winner on the PGA TOUR, is the most popular pick among among our Fantasy players at 80%.

Puig comes next on 64%, with Jarvis - returning to action after a two-week break since his International Swing heroics - at 47%.

Australia's Elvis Smylie and England's Dan Bradbury round out the top five.

Who are our ones to watch?

Here, we pick out three players in action this week who are worth considering for your Fantasy team selections.

Favourite - David Puig

Took up full membership on the DP World Tour for 2026 and made an immediate impact with victory at the season-opening BMW Australian PGA Championship in November. He has since added a further two top tens in Dubai and arrives in India for his debut appearance at DLF Golf & Country Club aiming to become the fourth multiple winner on the DP World Tour already this season. While this week may just be his 19th start on the DP World Tour, the 24-year-old has proven to be a consistent performer, with 15 made cuts and seven top tens. At a career-high 75th in the Official World Golf Ranking, another good week could see him break into the world's top 50 and secure a late invite to next month's Masters Tournament.

Form Horse - Casey Jarvis

The South African is already assured of a debut at Augusta National following an incredible run of form at the backend of the International Swing which saw him win back-to-back titles and finish tied second. After missing last week’s Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO, the 22-year-old returns to action hoping for more of the same as he looks to take his momentum from Africa across to Asia. With Patrick Reed and countryman Jayden Schaper not in action, he is the top-ranked player on the Race to Dubai this week and will be hopeful of closing the gap to the American leader after making the cut at each of his two previous starts at this event.

Wild Card - Veer Ahlawat

In this part of the world, familiarity of conditions is perhaps never more important so what chance a home winner? After the Hero Indian Open joined the DP World Tour schedule in 2015, the first three stagings were won by a player from India. In recent years, Ahlawat has come closest to becoming the fourth as he finished tied second in 2024. Either side of that, he has finished in the top 20 so clearly knows how to navigate his way around the challenge of DLF. Crowned the PGTI Order of Merit winner in 2024, he made 11 cuts across 20 starts in his rookie season on the DP World Tour last year and while he may have lost his full playing privileges he won’t be daunted by his surroundings.

What can I win?

Sign up and now be in with a chance of winning some great rewards!

The Ultimate Prize

Finish the 2026 Race to Dubai with the highest total Fantasy score and you’ll take home an incredible top-tier prize package:

1st

•  Two Ticket+ tickets to one DP World Tour event in 2027, valid for each day of competition. Both tickets must be used at the same tournament, chosen from the following: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Irish Open, or Open de France.

•  £500 flight voucher, redeemable in line with the issuing airline/provider’s terms and conditions.

•  £500 accommodation voucher, redeemable with the respective accommodation provider’s terms and conditions.

2nd

•  £300 DP World Tour Store voucher (subject to applicable terms and conditions).

•  Two General Admission tickets (valid for each competition day) to one 2027 DP World Tour event of the winner’s choice from: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Irish Open, or Open de France.

3rd

•  £150 DP World Tour Store voucher (subject to applicable terms and conditions).

•  Two General Admission tickets (valid for each competition day) to one 2027 DP World Tour event of the winner’s choice from: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Horizon Irish Open, or Open de France.

This year also introduces two brand-new Boosters: Triple Captain and Bench Boost, giving you even more ways to outscore the competition and climb the global leaderboard.

Alongside the season-long chase for the Ultimate Prize, players will also be able to win rewards throughout the year with prizes available for each Global Swing and Phase of the Race to Dubai.

Looking back - Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO

Jordan Gumberg may have arrived in China last week already as a winner on the DP World Tour but he was backed by just 1.18% of our players, who won 235 points with his victory.

It wasn't our best week when it comes to this regular column, with our Form Horse Nathan Kimsey and Wild Card Maximilian Steinlechner missing the cut, while our Favourite Angel Ayora finished in a tie for 28th.

Season so far - 2026 DP World Tour Fantasy Top 10 player rankings