New Delhi, Oct. 17 -- The large number of fans streaming into Delhi Golf Club on a sweaty Saturday afternoon lined both sides of the narrow first fairway well before Rory McIlroy teed off in the 1:40 pm slot. Scottie Scheffler is world No. 1, but the Northern Irishman is the leading light as a true globe-trotter, spreading golf's popularity and acting as the game's world spokesman.

There is also the small matter of six Majors and a grand slam accomplished after an 11-year wait. The American has four, none this year, when McIlroy defended his Masters title.

But there is something very human about the 37-year-old world No. 2, the biggest draw at this week's $4 million DP World India Championship. Sometimes McIlroy can appear a tad lonely ...