Changing course of golf in India

By Nikhil Kalaan, Media Head at Professional Golf Tour of India

I don’t often get down to writing but when I was suggested to chart out the story of how PGTI got India’s golfers today and created a truly substantial body to govern the sport, I was very interested. It was my turn to rewind. It was my turn to reminisce all the spectacular work PGTI has done. There is of course a starting point – history. Today fortunately India has emerged as a major power-centre for golf in Asia. PGTI has played a major role in the growth story of Indian professional golf. Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa have been an inspiration. This has complemented by a robust domestic structure provided by the PGTI at home. Little wonder, young Indian professionals like Anirban Lahiri, Shiv Kapur, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Himmat Singh Rai are now taking on the best in the world.

Brand PGTI has gone from strength to strength and established itself as a preferred partner for golf lovers and investors to contribute towards sustainable development of the sport.

It all began back in September 2006 with the inception of the PGTI as the controlling body for professional golf in India with Mr. Gautam Thapar, Chairman and CEO of Avantha Group as its President. With over 300 members PGTI’s Governing Board comprised of leading Indian golf professionals. Recognised as a ‘body by the players for the players’, PGTI’s main objective was to promote professional golf in the country, creating more competitive opportunities for its members.

In the following eight years since its inception, the PGTI witnessed unequalled growth in terms of prize money and the number of tournaments staged annually. Within four years of the PGTI coming into being the prize money jumped from Rs. 4.6 crores to an impressive Rs. 10 crores. The number of tournaments also grew from 10 in the first season to an average of 20. The Rolex Rankings champions since 2010 have consistently taken home prize money between Rs. 40 to 50 lakhs.

PGTI today is the premier tour of the South Asian region with its geographical base extending beyond India’s boundaries to Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It has thus helped golfers from not only India but also neighbouring countries to hone their skills and enhance their careers.

The 46 winners on the PGTI, including 32 first time winners since 2009, signify the intense competition and depth of talent on the tour. SSP Chowrasia, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Anirban Lahiri, C Muniyappa, Himmat Singh Rai, Digvijay Singh, Sujjan Singh and Bangladeshi Md Siddikur Rahman have all sharpened their skills on the PGTI before winning a combined total of 16 titles at the international level.

The PGTI has taken professional golf to various parts of the country and explored new venues. The tour has staged events in 14 Indian states besides the NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh. With the Feeder Tour, PGTI has further strengthened the foundation of Indian professional golf by setting up a strong supply line of talent for the main tour. The Feeder Tour has also penetrated smaller cities, taking the sport to a wider audience.

India has today emerged as a leading golfing destination for the European and Asian Tours, staging lucrative international tournaments each year. The PGTI co-sanctions two of these events, the SAIL-SBI Open and Panasonic Open. These international events have provided the much-needed exposure to Indian professionals and raised India’s profile as a successful host nation.

PGTI is acknowledged worldwide as the ‘official sanctioning body of professional golf in India’. In 2009, Mr. Gautam Thapar accepted an invitation to become a Board Member of the Asian Tour, a key milestone for the PGTI reflecting its rising international stature. The tour gained further international recognition after being inducted as a member of the prestigious ‘International Federation of PGA Tours’. PGTI is also currently represented on the Presidents Cup Committee by Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI.

PGTI’s tour partners, Rolex, Qatar Airways, Ten Golf, Volvo, Golf Plus and Golfingindian.com share its vision for the growth of Indian professional golf through their continued support.

PGTI’s firm footing has helped in attracting a lot of interest from domestic and international sponsors towards Indian professional golf. New venues and tournaments are being added to the schedule every season. We continue to focus on the aggressive growth journey that the sport has embarked on to establish golf as one of the leading sports for professional athletes and fans alike.