The Indian economy in not the sole victim of free falling Rupee but Indian sport has suffered its wrath as well.The country’s biggest golf tournaments are hit hard in terms of prize money.
Avantha Masters 2014 is out of schedule of the European Tour. As the title sponsors, the Avantha Group, have opted not to renew their contract with the Tour, citing poor scheduling and the current economic conditions as reasons.
The sponsors have said, “In order to attract top talent, both the timing of the event in the golf calendar along with a substantial prize money increase will be required… this is not the appropriate moment to do so.”
[highlight] We were informed by the European Tour (about Avantha) and about Kensville, the Challenge Tour told us that the sponsors have backed out [/highlight]
The other European event that has been casualty of rupee is the Challenge Tour. After hosting the Challenge Tour (the second rung of the European Tour) season opener on the outskirts of Ahmadabad for three successive years, the sponsors, Savvy Group, have pulled the plug on the Gujarat Kensville Challenge.
“We were informed by the European Tour (about Avantha) and about Kensville, the Challenge Tour told us that the sponsors have backed out,” said Padamjit Sandhu, Director, Professional Golf Tour of India.
Shun economics, the scheduling of the tournaments on the global golfing calendar has not helped repose sponsor faith. Avantha Masters, for instance, is hosted after substantially richer events in the Middle East (dubbed the “Desert Swing”) and in close proximity to two World Golf Championships.
With the biggest names routinely giving India a miss, many feel that sponsors were not getting enough in return.
