Delhi Golf Club, India – During the DP World India Championship, several golfers, including Shane Lowry, were seen sporting black ribbons, prompting inquiries from fans and observers. The reason for the black ribbons is to honor the late John "Scotchy" Graham, a well-respected caddie on the DP World Tour who passed away recently.
Graham was a beloved figure in the golfing community, known for his character, humor, and warmth. He caddied for some of golf's biggest names, including Lee Westwood, with whom he won the 1998 Freeport-McDermott Classic, Westwood's first PGA Tour title. Graham also caddied at the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, contributing to Team Europe's victory.
Tributes poured in from across the golfing world following his passing. Westwood shared a photo of himself with Graham, writing, "Rest in peace, Scotchy xxx". Fellow caddies Kyle Roadley and Billy Foster also expressed their condolences, with Foster calling Graham "the best character our game has ever known".
The wearing of black ribbons is a common gesture in the golf community to mourn and remember those who have passed away. Previously, players wore black ribbons at the 3M Open to honor Kayla Hale, the wife of an Odyssey Tour representative, and at the Memorial Tournament to support the Play Yellow program, which aids children in local hospitals. Green ribbons were also worn at the Amgen Irish Open to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
As for the tournament, the DP World India Championship marks the DP World Tour's return to Delhi Golf Club since 2016. The course also hosted the Tour’s first-ever Indian event in 2008, the Indian Masters. This year’s event has a $4 million purse, the largest ever offered at a golf event in India. The winner will receive $680,000.
Lowry began the tournament strong, leading after the first round with an eight-under-par 64. He played alongside Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald and teammate Tommy Fleetwood. After the third round, Lowry is in third place, three shots behind leader Keita Nakajima.
