Monuments, monkeys and McIlroy: India's 'special' golf course

New Delhi: Rory McIlroy and centuries of history blended beautifully as the Ryder Cup winner tackled a special golf course this week in the Indian c...

New Delhi: Rory McIlroy and centuries of history blended beautifully as the Ryder Cup winner tackled a "special" golf course this week in the Indian capital, teeming with wildlife and usually hidden from view.

Nestled in the heart of New Delhi, a city of nearly 30 million people, Delhi Golf Club (DGC) is a green sanctuary steeped in history.

Its lush fairways wind past centuries-old Mughal-domed tombs and weathered monuments, offering a surreal blend of elite sport and crumbling heritage.

For most of the public, glimpsing this extraordinary mix -- home to the 18-hole Lodhi Course and the nine-hole Peacock Course -- is usually only possible by peering through its entrance gates.

"I actually said to the boys on the 17th tee, it was hard to believe how old these buildings are, these monuments," said McIlroy's Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry, who led after the opening round of the DP World India Championship on Thursday with an eight-under-par 64.