Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) With the tri-sanctioned Euro 1.5 million Avantha Masters as the highlight, the Aircel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has confirmed eight events over the first quarter of the 2010 season.
In addition, the PGTI also announced the setting up of a newly Feeder Tour, which will have eight events. The events will carry a purse of about Rs.300,000 to Rs.400,000 and feature 72 players competing over 54 holes. The players will be those ranked outside top-100 of the PGTI Order of Merit of the previous year.

“These events will give the second rung of players and upcoming talent a chance to grow in professional golf,” said Padamjit Sandhu, director PGTI. “We will shortly be announcing the details,” he added.

On the main Tour, four of the six confirmed events in the first quarters have increased the prize purse. The confirmed events are American Express Bangladesh Open in Dhaka, Aircel PGTI Players Championship in Kolkata, Solaris Chemtech Open; BT Pro-Am and SRF All India Matchplay.

Two other events yet to be confirmed are Aircel PGTI Championships in Panchkula and DDA Open at Lado Sarai.

The two co-sanctioned events are Avantha Masters with European and Asian Tour and the SAIL Open with Asian Tour.

“We are confident that 2010 will help consolidate the fundamentals for the growth of professional golf in India. Most events will see an increase in purse, some upto 25 per cent and more,” said Sandhu.

“Positive discussions are also on for new joint sanctioned events with Asian Tour in India,” he added.

The highlight of the 2010 season will be the Euro 1.5 million Avantha Masters, an event tri-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and PGTI. The Avantha Masters will feature one of the strongest fields ever on Indian soil as leading professionals from Europe, Asia and India are expected to participate at this event.

The first events are:

Jan 25-28: American Express Bangladesh Open, Kurmitola Golf Club, Dhaka, Bangladesh (Rs.2 million)

Feb 02-05: Aircel PGTI Players Championship, Tollygunge Club Ltd., Kolkata (Rs. 4 million)

Feb 11-14: Avantha Masters, DLF Golf & Country Club (Euro 1.5 Million)

Mar 4-7: Aircel PGTI Players Championship, Panchkula Golf Club, Panchkula (Rs. 4 million) - TBC

Mar 11-14: Solaris Chemtech Open, NCR (Course to be confirmed) (Rs. 4 million)

Mar 18-21: SAIL Open, To be confirmed - co-sanctioned with Asian Tour

Mar 27-28: BT Pro-Am, Course to be confirmed

Apl 1-4: DDA Open, Qutab Golf Course, Delhi (To be confirmed)

Apl 8-11: SRF All India Matchplay (Course to be confirmed) (Rs.2.5 million)