DP World PGTI, Essar Foundation launch Shri Shashi Ruia Memorial Golf Championship
The DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI) and Essar Foundation have announced the launch of the Shri Shashi Ruia Memorial Golf Championship, a new annual tournament aimed at strengthening professional golf in India and honouring the legacy of late Essar Group co-founder Shashi Ruia.
Under a five-year partnership, the championship will be held annually through 2031. The inaugural edition is scheduled to take place at the historic Willingdon Sports Club in Mumbai from January 12 to 15, 2027, with a prize purse of Rs 2 crore. The Pro-Am event will be held on January 10.
The tournament will bring together leading professional golfers from across India, providing a platform for established players and emerging talent to compete on the domestic golfing calendar.
Shashi Ruia, who co-founded Essar Group with Ravi Ruia, played a significant role in building the company into a global investment group with interests spanning energy, infrastructure, metals and mining, and technology and retail.
Kapil Dev, president of DP World PGTI, said the championship marked an important milestone for Indian professional golf.
“Bringing DP World PGTI to Mumbai, India’s financial capital, presents an exciting opportunity to showcase world-class professional golf to a wider audience, strengthen the sport’s presence in a key metropolitan centre, and create greater visibility for India’s golfing talent,” Dev said.
He added that the tour would work towards establishing the championship as a prestigious fixture on the Indian golfing calendar while commemorating Ruia’s legacy and contributing to the sport’s continued growth.
Prashant Ruia, group chief executive of Essar Group, said the championship would honour his father’s longstanding love for golf.
“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. I remember accompanying him to golf courses and listening to his wonderful stories,” he said.
Ruia added that the family hoped the championship would carry forward his father’s spirit and encourage more people to take up the sport.
Amit Bajaj, managing director and global head of 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, Essar Foundation aims to create a lasting platform for the country’s leading professionals and emerging players to demonstrate their abilities and compete at a high level, he said.
Amandeep Johl, chief executive officer of DP World PGTI, said Essar Group’s commitment would provide a strong foundation for the tournament to grow in stature and ambition.
He said the substantial prize purse and the event’s presence in Mumbai would help raise the level of competition while connecting professional golf with one of India’s most prominent centres of business and enterprise.
Founded in 1917, Willingdon Sports Club is among Mumbai’s established sporting institutions. Its 18-hole golf course, established in 1933, is located in South Mumbai.
The organisers said the names of participating professionals would be announced closer to the tournament.
Under a five-year partnership, the championship will be held annually through 2031. The inaugural edition is scheduled to take place at the historic Willingdon Sports Club in Mumbai from January 12 to 15, 2027, with a prize purse of Rs 2 crore. The Pro-Am event will be held on January 10.
The tournament will bring together leading professional golfers from across India, providing a platform for established players and emerging talent to compete on the domestic golfing calendar.
Shashi Ruia, who co-founded Essar Group with Ravi Ruia, played a significant role in building the company into a global investment group with interests spanning energy, infrastructure, metals and mining, and technology and retail.
Kapil Dev, president of DP World PGTI, said the championship marked an important milestone for Indian professional golf.
“Bringing DP World PGTI to Mumbai, India’s financial capital, presents an exciting opportunity to showcase world-class professional golf to a wider audience, strengthen the sport’s presence in a key metropolitan centre, and create greater visibility for India’s golfing talent,” Dev said.
He added that the tour would work towards establishing the championship as a prestigious fixture on the Indian golfing calendar while commemorating Ruia’s legacy and contributing to the sport’s continued growth.
Prashant Ruia, group chief executive of Essar Group, said the championship would honour his father’s longstanding love for golf.
“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. I remember accompanying him to golf courses and listening to his wonderful stories,” he said.
Ruia added that the family hoped the championship would carry forward his father’s spirit and encourage more people to take up the sport.
Amit Bajaj, managing director and global head of 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, Essar Foundation aims to create a lasting platform for the country’s leading professionals and emerging players to demonstrate their abilities and compete at a high level, he said.
Amandeep Johl, chief executive officer of DP World PGTI, said Essar Group’s commitment would provide a strong foundation for the tournament to grow in stature and ambition.
He said the substantial prize purse and the event’s presence in Mumbai would help raise the level of competition while connecting professional golf with one of India’s most prominent centres of business and enterprise.
Founded in 1917, Willingdon Sports Club is among Mumbai’s established sporting institutions. Its 18-hole golf course, established in 1933, is located in South Mumbai.
The organisers said the names of participating professionals would be announced closer to the tournament.
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