PGTI chief executive Uttam Singh Mundy with Vishwa Samudra Engineering MD Anil Yendluri, professionals Ajeetesh Sandhu and S.S.P. Chawrasia, PGTI president Kapil Dev and others at the launch event at the Delhi Golf Club on Monday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
The first edition of the Rs 2 crore Vishwa Samudra Open presented by Kapil Dev will be played at the Delhi Golf Club from Tuesday with a field of 126 in the fray, it was announced on Monday.
The tournament, jointly announced on Monday is being supported by the Vishwa Samudra Group and DGC while PGTI president Kapil Dev is the tournament host.
With a full field PGTI event returning to the DGC after three years, some of the country’s top names will be in contention including Tata Steel PGTI Rankings leader Veer Ahlawat and two-time Indian Open winner Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia.
Others in the field include Asian Tour regulars Ajeetesh Sandhu, Rashid Khan, Khalin Joshi, Karandeep Kochhar, Chikkarangappa S., and Yuvraj Sandhu besides seasoner warriors Rahil Gangjee and Gaurav Ghei.
DP World (European) card holder for the 2024 season Om Prakash Chouhan is back on home soil and will join former merit list topper Udayan Mane, Manu Gandas and others who have done well on the domestic circuit this year.
The Vishwa Samudra Open is the penultimate event on the PGTI’s 2024 schedule with the Tour Championship to follow later this month in Jamshedpur.
Overseas entrants include Stepan Danek of the Czech Republic, in-form Bangladesh golfer Jamal Hossain, and compatriots Badal Hossain, Md Akbar Hossain, and Md Jakiruzzaman Jakir.
Sri Lankans N. Thangaraja and K. Prabagaran, Andorra’s Kevin Esteve Rigaill, Subash Tamang of Nepal, Canada’s Sukhraj Singh Gill, Makoto Iwasaki from Japan and Americans Dominic Piccirillo and Digraj Singh Gill will also be contending.
Besides Ghei, the DGC will be represented by professionals Sachin Baisoya, Harshjeet Singh Sethie, Manav Jaini, Arjun Singh, Naman Dawar, Karan Vasudeva, Saarthak Chhibber, Harsh Gangwar, Pawan Kumar and Rohit Baisoya.
Enhanced purses
Speaking on the occasion, Kapil Dev said he was looking forward to the day the PGTI could boost its present total prize fund of Rs 24 crore towards the Rs 50 crore mark and called on corporates to support the game and help widen its base.
“This joint initiative of the Vishwa Samudra Group and the PGTI will go a long way in further strengthening the tour by creating more playing opportunities for the professionals and making a significant addition to the annual prize money on offer on the PGTI.
“With a top-class field contending for the title, we can look forward to a fascinating week of golfing action. I’m excited to host all the players during the week and wish them all the best.”
Added Vishwa Samudra Engineering managing director Anil Yendluri, “We are thrilled to partner with the PGTI for the first time.
“The Vishwa Samudra Group up until now has hosted the best corporate golf event the country has seen and now, we are excited to venture into the space of professional sport.
“Our group has supported talented golfers in the past and this is the first time that we are associating with the PGTI. We hope this is the start of a very mutually beneficial association which grows in the years to come.”
Said outgoing PGTI chief executive Uttam Singh Mundy, “This event gains further significance as it will be the last full-field event of the season thus providing the professionals a great opportunity to make an impact in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking.
“With a star-studded field vying for top honours in the pristine conditions at the Delhi Golf Club, a thrilling week of golfing action is in the offing.”
Also read: Changing lives; the PGTI’s long arc for India’s professionals
Discover more from Tee Time Tales
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.