Indian Masters
Encyclopedia
The Indian Masters was a professional golf
tournament on the European
and Asian
Tours, that was played in February 2008. The tournament was introduced as part of the continuing globalisation of the European Tour, making India the 37th territory to stage a European Tour event, and increasing to twelve the number of tournaments played in Asia as of the 2008 season.
The tournament was initially only sanctioned by the European Tour and the Indian Golf Union, the announcement of which drew sharp criticism from both Asian Tour
chairman Kyi Hla Han
and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) , with both organisations claiming that the European Tour had breached International Federation of PGA Tours protocols by not making advance arrangements with them for co-sanctioning of an event to be staged in their region. The Indian Golf Union issued a statement a few days after the tournament was announced stating that the European Tour had approached it, and was willing to offer 20 invitations to Indian domestic players through the PGTI. The dispute was eventually settled, and the Asian Tour agreed terms to co-sanction the tournament in advance of its 2008 debut. The 2008 prize fund was US$
2.5 million, which is the largest ever offered at a golf tournament in India, and also one of the largest in Asia, but slightly below the overall average on the European Tour. The promoters are Golf in Dubai, who are also responsible for the Dubai Desert Classic
on the European Tour and the Dubai Ladies Masters
on the Ladies European Tour
.
Early in December 2008, organisers announced that due to financial problems with sponsors stemming from the global economic situation, and security concerns following the attacks in Mumbai, the 2009 event would be cancelled.
The long established Indian Open is also an Asian Tour event.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
tournament on the European
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 Asian
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...
Tours, that was played in February 2008. The tournament was introduced as part of the continuing globalisation of the European Tour, making India the 37th territory to stage a European Tour event, and increasing to twelve the number of tournaments played in Asia as of the 2008 season.
The tournament was initially only sanctioned by the European Tour and the Indian Golf Union, the announcement of which drew sharp criticism from both 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...
chairman Kyi Hla Han
Kyi Hla Han
Kyi Hla Han is a former professional golfer from Myanmar and the current executive chairman of the Asian Tour.Kyi Hla Han turned professional in 1980. He recorded his first professional win at the 1983 Malaysian PGA Championship. He played on the Asian Tour from its debut season in 1995 until 2004...
and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) , with both organisations claiming that the European Tour had breached International Federation of PGA Tours protocols by not making advance arrangements with them for co-sanctioning of an event to be staged in their region. The Indian Golf Union issued a statement a few days after the tournament was announced stating that the European Tour had approached it, and was willing to offer 20 invitations to Indian domestic players through the PGTI. The dispute was eventually settled, and the Asian Tour agreed terms to co-sanction the tournament in advance of its 2008 debut. The 2008 prize fund was US$
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....
2.5 million, which is the largest ever offered at a golf tournament in India, and also one of the largest in Asia, but slightly below the overall average on the European Tour. The promoters are Golf in Dubai, who are also responsible for the Dubai Desert Classic
Dubai Desert Classic
The Dubai Desert Classic is an annual professional golf tournament which takes place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It has been part of the European Tour schedule since its inauguration in 1989, and was the first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East...
on the European Tour and the Dubai Ladies Masters
Dubai Ladies Masters
The Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, is a professional golf tournament on the Ladies European Tour that was played for the first time in October 2006. Its prize fund of €500,000 makes it the fourth richest on the LET, after the Evian Masters...
on the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
.
Early in December 2008, organisers announced that due to financial problems with sponsors stemming from the global economic situation, and security concerns following the attacks in Mumbai, the 2009 event would be cancelled.
The long established Indian Open is also an Asian Tour event.
Winners
| Year | Venue | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | DLF Golf & Country Club | Tournament cancelled | |
| 2008 | Delhi Golf Club |  Shiv ChowrasiaShiv Chowrasia Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia , also known as "Chipputtsia", and "Chow" is an Indian professional golfer. After he turned professional in 1997, he went on to win eight titles on the Indian Tour and finished second twice in the Indian Open.... |
279 (-9) |