DP World India Championship weather forecast for Thursday
It's going to be a hot one! Temperatures start at 83 and peak at 97 degrees around 2pm before dropping later in the afternoon.
Wind speeds are around 8mph for the early starters but fall away before a spike around 5pm when the very later starters are finishing up.
Tee-times (three-balls from the 1st and 10th) start at 06:25 local and finish at 13:00.
First Round Leader Bet 1: Eugenio Chacarra @ 30/131.00
The 18-hole leaderboard here last year was full of familiar, top-class names rather than local Indian players so it's fair to think the cream rises to the top straight away.
It may be a surprise to some but Eugenio Chacarra is currently 2nd on the Race to Dubai, moving above Rory McIlroy after finishing runner-up in his home Open de Espana last week.
The Spaniard now has a second, a third and a fourth in his latest five starts and an opening 66 in Madrid last week gave him a piece of the first-round lead.
His performances in India also take the eye as in four events across the last two seasons he's posted a win (The Hero Indian Open, his first victory on the DP World Tour), a second, a fifth and a 26th here. Chacarra's FRL positions in that quartet were 1-10-44-2.
The 26-year-old tees off at 07:05 from the 10th in one of the marquee groups alongside Justin Rose and Min Woo Lee. Back him at 30s (1/4 Odds, 5 Places).
Back Eugenio Chacarra each-way for FRL
First Round Leader Bet 2: Angel Ayora @ 50/151.00
Angel Ayora suffered a final-round slump in the Open de Espana last week, dropping from sixth after three rounds to tied 26th.
But let's not forget those opening 54 holes when he was fourth after day one.
The Spaniard may have missed the cut here last year but he fired a Friday 69 and in the Indian Open earlier in 2026 Ayora finished 11th.
A fourth place at Crans (another tree-lined track) last month is also a plus (second after the opening lap) and, after Sunday's capitulation, Ayora will be keen to get back on the horse and throw in a low one.
He's also an early starter at 06:35 from the 10th.
Back Angel Ayora each-way for FRL
First Round Leader Bet 3: Thriston Lawrence @ 45/146.00
If Crans is a useful guide then Thriston Lawrence has to enter calculations given that he won his third title there in September.
That suggests he'll like Delhi GC and, in fact, we know he does after the South African closed with a 65 to finish third last year.
Adding to Lawrence's appeal is his recent FRL form which shows him sitting second after 18 holes in two of his last six starts. That was thanks to a 64 in Crans and a 65 at Le Golf National in the Open de France.
A 13th place at the Open de Espana last week was achieved with another lap of 65 (R4) so he's been racking up the birdies.
Lawrence is our later starter at 11:30 from the 1st.
Back Thriston Lawrence each-way for FRL