PGTI set to open up Tour, expecting world ranking status

Bengaluru, November 20: A rich man's sport. An elite field. These were the terms associated with golf. Whenever one would talk about the sport, it was commonly discussed as the sport for the 'well-off'. But that was a few years back. And in those days Indian names winning the big events, were far and few. Fast forward to today. It's the Indians who are walking away with the major trophies at home. Many new Indian golfers have sprung up on the winners list on the Asian Tour in the recent years. Golf has come a long way over the past ten years and much of the credit goes to the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

The association which was formed way back in 2016 has paved the way for the young stars to garner the opportunity to make a mark in the sport and expand their horizons. Now, the PGTI is set for an even bigger move, one which will see the sport grow in leaps and bounds. In the upcoming year, the Tour is opening up and will hopefully get world ranking points. This will attract a lot of top players from around the world, who have stayed away till now due to the lack of ranking points. Add to that a new feeder Tour and the young golfers are set to get the best of opportunities.

PGTI CEO Uttam Singh Mundy opened up about the plans during the inaugural Bengaluru Open Golf Championship, which recently concluded at the Karnataka Golf Association. "Over the last few years there has been a surge with Indians winning so many tournaments and our youngsters are doing well. We are opening up the tour from next year and we are hoping to get world ranking points. I think that is completely going to change the game.

"The competition would also increase with a lot of foreign players coming to play here and it will provide a lot of opportunities for our players. We are also starting the feeder tour with 6-8 tournaments which will help those players who can't take part in the main tour."

Several golfers have voiced their satisfaction at the Tour opening up and also the PGTI conducting big prize-money events. After picking up his third title for the year at the KGA on Saturday, 26-year-old pro Udayan Mane stated that the tour should have more big money tournaments like the Bengaluru Open which will help the Indian players. "If they have tournaments like this, maybe like ten or twelve a year and with our Tour opening, I think a lot of people will want to come back and play at home in the PGTI itself. Their slogan is taking Indian golf global and that's a big step towards it."

One of India's seasoned golfers, Jyoti Randhawa also was full of praise for the Tour, stating it has made it much easier for the golfers in the current days. "A lot of Indians have international wins to their names nowadays. I have now been playing for 20 years. When we were young we didn't have so many opportunities. Now we have a world of golf here. Now if you're good and you have the skill set and you do reasonably well then the prize money helps you big time.

"The only reason competition has gone up and Indians are winning outside so much is because the prize money has gone up. You win here then you have money, to go take care of yourself outside, and PGTI gives you the platform to do that. The tour has really helped my game. And now with the tour opening up players are going to get a even bigger boost," stated Randhawa, who missed the cut last week in Bengaluru.