The J&K Open’s Lotus Trophy being unveiled in Srinagar on Sunday by (from left to right) Hemant Ruia, Country Manager, Subcontinent (India), DP World, DP World PGTI chief executive Amandeep Johl and money list leader Saptak Talwar. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Current Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar, and past toppers Veer Ahlawat, Om Prakash Chouhan and Manu Gandas headline the field for edition five of the J&K Open which tees off at Srinagar’s Royal Springs on Tuesday.
The state government through the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism and DP World Professional Golf Tour of India on Sunday unveiled the Lotus Trophy for the tournament that concludes on Friday, the DP World PGTI said.
The prize purse for the event which sees the start of the tour’s ‘Back Nine” schedule of tournaments has been raised from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
Present at the trophy unveiling in Srinagar on Sunday were Nasir Aslam Wani, advisor to state chief minister Omar Abdullah, Hemant Kumar Ruia of DP World, J&K cricketer Auqib Nabi, (popularly known as the Baramulla Express), and DP World PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar.
Speaking on the occasion, Wani 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 the state’s golfing infrastructure to players, visitors and audiences from across the country and beyond.
All-weather destination
“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.”
Added Ruia, “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.”
A panel discussion on the occasion that included Wani, Auqib Nabi, Ruia and Tour CEO Amandeep Johl highlighted how global partnerships could help shape J&K’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 top class golf.
The tournament field will feature leading professionals from Jammu & Kashmir including Arindam Sudan, Fayaz Ahmed Langoo, Adnan Mubarik Rah and Pawan Parihar.
Also read: J&K Open heralds ‘back nine’ of DP World PGTI’s 2026 season
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