DP World PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl (left) and president Kapil Dev speak in a press conference at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday. Image courtesy DP World PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
Indian golfers looking to compete on the world stage will have overseas qualifying school expenses of up to ₹3 lakh of its top 30 players from the Order of Merit covered by the DP World PGTI.
The decision by the domestic tour removes a major financial barrier between Indian talent and international opportunity, tour president Kapil Dev said on the sidelines of the ongoing DP World India Championship.
The support applies to overseas qualifying schools, including those for the DP World Tour, Japan Golf Tour and the Asian Tour. Players who go on to qualify will each receive a further ₹10 lakh.
Cost is a major factor for young professionals, travelling abroad to compete for a tour card. This step is designed to let them focus more on the game and is part of a push tovreate international pathways for Indian golfers.
Said Kapil Dev, “We will do everything in our power to enable our players to get maximum playing opportunities on the international stage.
Positive development
“We are very happy and delighted to have DP World as a partner. For any organisation, bringing in a major partner is important, and this has been a very positive development for Indian golf.”
Added Johl, “The DP World PGTI is covering qualifying-school expenses of up to ₹3 lakh for players in the top 30. If they qualify, each player will receive ₹10 lakh.
“This has already been approved, the players have been informed, and the money has been set aside. At DP World PGTI, we have always been clear that this organisation is about the players.
“The traditional route from the DP World PGTI to the international stage used to be through the Asian Tour.
“However, the changes in the golf ecosystem over the past few years resulted in the absence of that transition to the Asian Tour making it harder for the players to move on to the DP World Tour.
“Now that we are once again aligning with the Asian Tour, there will be a stronger international pathway for our players.
“The organisation is also working towards staging Asian Development Tour events next year and, hopefully, Asian Tour events as well, alongside more co-sanctioned tournaments that offer world-ranking points and a path toward Olympic qualification,” he added.
Also read: Indian golf’s Gen Next hope to make a mark on DPWIC debut
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