Indian Golf Tour
Encyclopedia
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is a professional golf tour
for men based in India
. The tour was formed in 2006, as the successor to the Indian PGA Golf Tour, which ran from 1997 to 2006.
The PGTI serves as a feeder tour for higher level tours such as the Asian Tour
. Many Indian players have become members of the Asian Tour, while a small number have joined the world's leading two tours, the European Tour
and the United States based PGA Tour
.
The PGTI became a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours in 2009, but its events do not carry World Ranking Points
, except for the Indian Open and the SAIL Open
, which are co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
, and the Avantha Masters
, which is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
. In the early years Indian golf with dominated by British players and it was not until 1949 that Mohinder Bal became the first Indian to win the All-India Amateur Championship. The Indian Golf Union (IGU) was founded in 1955 to take over responsibility for Indian Golf, which had previously been largely in the hands of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. The sport was still dominated by amateurs at that point, but most of them were now Indian.
In 1957 the IGU started a training program for caddies and professionals. In 1964 the Indian Open (open that is to both amateurs and professionals), was established and it soon replaced the All-India Amateur as the leading golf tournament in the country. Australia
n and five time British Open champion Peter Thomson used to stop over in India on his way from Australia to Europe, and he won the Indian Open in 1964, 1966 and 1976. Major Billoo Sethi, an amateur, was the first Indian to win this tournament in 1965. In 1970 the Indian Open became part of the Asian Golf Circuit, the predecessor of the Asian Tour
. In 1991 Ali Sher a professional golfer won the Indian Open, which made professional golf a much more attractive career option in India.
The Professional Golfers Association of India was founded in 1988, and several additional professional events were founded in India in the 1990s. From 1997 to 2006, the Indian Golf Tour was managed by Tiger Sports Marketing on behalf of the PGA of India. Total prize money for the 2004/05 season was 30,500,000 Indian rupee
s ($
698,260 at 31 December 2004 exchange rate). There were around 20 events in the season, including tournaments in Nepal
, Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka
.
In October 2006 a group of leading Indian golfers including Jyoti Randhawa
and Gaurav Ghei
announced that they were setting up a new tour. This followed a dispute between the Professional Golfers Association of India and Tiger Sports Marketing, the organisers of the Indian Golf Tour. The BBC reported that it was not clear whether this tour would simply take the place of the existing tour, or whether rival tours might develop. In the event, the new tour, the Professional Golf Tour of India, took over as India's sole domestic professional tour, though Tiger Sports Marketing remained involved in other aspects of Indian golf.
The PGTI's schedule expanded rapidly in its first few seasons. In 2010 there were twenty-five events on the main schedule, including two co-sanctioend with the Asian Tour and one co-sanctioned with the European Tour, plus seven events on the Feeder Tour, which debuted that year. In 2011 the tour will co-sanction an event with the European Tour's developmental circuit, the Challenge Tour
, for the first time.
In the ongoing power struggle between the Asian Tour
and OneAsia for control of men's professional tournament golf in Asia, the PGTI has so far leant towards the former. The PGTI's president, Gautam Thapar, became a member of the Asian Tour's board in 2009, and as of 2011 India has not hosted any OneAsia events.
Professional golf tours
Professional golf tours are the means by which otherwise unconnected professional golf tournaments are organised into a regular schedule. There are separate tours for men and women, with each tour being based in a specific geographical region, although some of their tournaments may be held in other...
for men based in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The tour was formed in 2006, as the successor to the Indian PGA Golf Tour, which ran from 1997 to 2006.
The PGTI serves as a feeder tour for higher level tours such as the Asian Tour
Asian Tour
The Asian Tour is the principal men's professional golf tour in Asia except for Japan, which has its own Japan Golf Tour, which is also a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. The Asian Tour is administered from offices in Singapore...
. Many Indian players have become members of the Asian Tour, while a small number have joined the world's leading two tours, the European Tour
PGA European Tour
The PGA European Tour is an organization which operates the three leading men's professional golf tours in Europe: the elite European Tour, the European Seniors Tour and the developmental Challenge Tour. Its headquarters are at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
and the United States based PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
.
The PGTI became a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours in 2009, but its events do not carry World Ranking Points
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
, except for the Indian Open and the SAIL Open
SAIL Open
The SAIL Open is a golf tournament on the Asian Tour, played in India. It has been held annually since 2008 and is co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India...
, which are co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
Asian Tour
The Asian Tour is the principal men's professional golf tour in Asia except for Japan, which has its own Japan Golf Tour, which is also a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. The Asian Tour is administered from offices in Singapore...
, and the Avantha Masters
Avantha Masters
The Avantha Masters is a professional golf tournament on the European and Asian Tours. It was a new tournament for 2010, and marked the European Tour's return to India following the cancellation of the Indian Masters in 2009....
, which is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
History
India's Royal Calcutta Golf Club was founded in 1829 and is usually regarded as the oldest outside the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In the early years Indian golf with dominated by British players and it was not until 1949 that Mohinder Bal became the first Indian to win the All-India Amateur Championship. The Indian Golf Union (IGU) was founded in 1955 to take over responsibility for Indian Golf, which had previously been largely in the hands of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. The sport was still dominated by amateurs at that point, but most of them were now Indian.
In 1957 the IGU started a training program for caddies and professionals. In 1964 the Indian Open (open that is to both amateurs and professionals), was established and it soon replaced the All-India Amateur as the leading golf tournament in the country. Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n and five time British Open champion Peter Thomson used to stop over in India on his way from Australia to Europe, and he won the Indian Open in 1964, 1966 and 1976. Major Billoo Sethi, an amateur, was the first Indian to win this tournament in 1965. In 1970 the Indian Open became part of the Asian Golf Circuit, the predecessor of the Asian Tour
Asian Tour
The Asian Tour is the principal men's professional golf tour in Asia except for Japan, which has its own Japan Golf Tour, which is also a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. The Asian Tour is administered from offices in Singapore...
. In 1991 Ali Sher a professional golfer won the Indian Open, which made professional golf a much more attractive career option in India.
The Professional Golfers Association of India was founded in 1988, and several additional professional events were founded in India in the 1990s. From 1997 to 2006, the Indian Golf Tour was managed by Tiger Sports Marketing on behalf of the PGA of India. Total prize money for the 2004/05 season was 30,500,000 Indian rupee
Indian rupee
The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India....
s ($
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
698,260 at 31 December 2004 exchange rate). There were around 20 events in the season, including tournaments in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
In October 2006 a group of leading Indian golfers including Jyoti Randhawa
Jyoti Randhawa
Jyoti Singh Randhawa is an Indian professional golfer who was ranked in the top 100 of the world and is the third-highest Indian in the world rankings.-Career:...
and Gaurav Ghei
Gaurav Ghei
Gaurav Ghei is an Indian professional golfer who plays on the Asian Tour. He turned professional in 1991. His wins include three Asian Tour titles: the 1995 Gadgil Western Masters, the 2006 Taiwan Masters, and the 2007 Beijing Open...
announced that they were setting up a new tour. This followed a dispute between the Professional Golfers Association of India and Tiger Sports Marketing, the organisers of the Indian Golf Tour. The BBC reported that it was not clear whether this tour would simply take the place of the existing tour, or whether rival tours might develop. In the event, the new tour, the Professional Golf Tour of India, took over as India's sole domestic professional tour, though Tiger Sports Marketing remained involved in other aspects of Indian golf.
The PGTI's schedule expanded rapidly in its first few seasons. In 2010 there were twenty-five events on the main schedule, including two co-sanctioend with the Asian Tour and one co-sanctioned with the European Tour, plus seven events on the Feeder Tour, which debuted that year. In 2011 the tour will co-sanction an event with the European Tour's developmental circuit, the Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
, for the first time.
In the ongoing power struggle between the Asian Tour
Asian Tour
The Asian Tour is the principal men's professional golf tour in Asia except for Japan, which has its own Japan Golf Tour, which is also a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours. The Asian Tour is administered from offices in Singapore...
and OneAsia for control of men's professional tournament golf in Asia, the PGTI has so far leant towards the former. The PGTI's president, Gautam Thapar, became a member of the Asian Tour's board in 2009, and as of 2011 India has not hosted any OneAsia events.
Professional Golf Tour of India
| Season | Winner | Earnings (Rs Indian rupee The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India.... ) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 |  Ashok KumarAshok Kumar (golfer) Ashok Kumar is a professional golfer from India, currently playing on the Professional Golf Tour of India, where he was the 2003/04 and the 2006/07 Order of Merit winner.Kumar was born in Bihar in 1983 and turned professional in 2002.... |
5,394,125 |
| 2009 | Anirban Lahiri Anirban Lahiri Anirban Lahiri is an Indian professional golfer.Lahiri played on the Professional Golf Tour of India, where he won two events and the Order of Merit in 2009. He also plays on the Asian Tour, where he won once in 2011.-External links:... |
3,657,853 |
| 2007–08 | Mukesh Kumar Mukesh Kumar (golfer) Mukesh Kumar is a professional golfer from India who currently plays on the Professional Golf Tour of India , where he has won the Order of Merit on six occasions on the PGTI and on previous Tour's before that.... |
3,431,992 |
| 2006–07 | Ashok Kumar Ashok Kumar (golfer) Ashok Kumar is a professional golfer from India, currently playing on the Professional Golf Tour of India, where he was the 2003/04 and the 2006/07 Order of Merit winner.Kumar was born in Bihar in 1983 and turned professional in 2002.... |
4,417,875 |
PGA of India Tour
| Season | Winner | Earnings (Rs Indian rupee The Indian rupee is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India.... ) |
|---|---|---|
| Amby Valley PGAI Tour | ||
| 2005–06 | Mukesh Kumar Mukesh Kumar (golfer) Mukesh Kumar is a professional golfer from India who currently plays on the Professional Golf Tour of India , where he has won the Order of Merit on six occasions on the PGTI and on previous Tour's before that.... |
1,721,795 |
| 2004–05 | Mukesh Kumar Mukesh Kumar (golfer) Mukesh Kumar is a professional golfer from India who currently plays on the Professional Golf Tour of India , where he has won the Order of Merit on six occasions on the PGTI and on previous Tour's before that.... |
2,626,350 |
| Hero Honda Golf Tour | ||
| 2003–04 | Ashok Kumar Ashok Kumar (golfer) Ashok Kumar is a professional golfer from India, currently playing on the Professional Golf Tour of India, where he was the 2003/04 and the 2006/07 Order of Merit winner.Kumar was born in Bihar in 1983 and turned professional in 2002.... |
1,253,710 |
| 2002–03 | Mukesh Kumar Mukesh Kumar (golfer) Mukesh Kumar is a professional golfer from India who currently plays on the Professional Golf Tour of India , where he has won the Order of Merit on six occasions on the PGTI and on previous Tour's before that.... |
2,177,402 |
| 2001–02 | Mukesh Kumar Mukesh Kumar (golfer) Mukesh Kumar is a professional golfer from India who currently plays on the Professional Golf Tour of India , where he has won the Order of Merit on six occasions on the PGTI and on previous Tour's before that.... |
1,751,425 |
| Wills Sport Golf Tour | ||
| 2000–01 | Mukesh Kumar Mukesh Kumar (golfer) Mukesh Kumar is a professional golfer from India who currently plays on the Professional Golf Tour of India , where he has won the Order of Merit on six occasions on the PGTI and on previous Tour's before that.... |
1,300,685 |
| 1999–00 | Vijay Kumar |
1,185,124 |
| 1998–99 | Vijay Kumar |
1,341,564 |
| Indian PGA Golf Tour | ||
| 1997–98 | Vijay Kumar |
|