By Rahul Banerji
In ongoing efforts to widen its sponsor base, the Professional Golf Tour of India, PGTI, has brought on board global bank American Express and healthcare company Amrutanjan as new tour partners.
Making the announcement in New Delhi on Thursday, PGTI chief executive Uttam Singh Mundy said, “Both partnerships are a major boost to PGTI’s efforts in getting the tour back on track in these testing times.”
The TATA Steel-PGTI resumes its schedule from September 2 after a break of over five months due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and consequent lockdown.
The Telengana Open in Hyderabad kicks off the 10-event swing that culminates with the Tata Steel Tour Championship in Jamshedpur in late December.
One event makes a return to the schedule announced earlier this month – the Rs 60 lakh Servo Masters in Digboi – and the J&K Open, a new tournament in mid-September, will go ahead as scheduled in Srinagar.
“The administration has assured us of sufficient arrangements in terms of security, plus the situation is stable now,” Mundy said. “We have also made a list of what are safe establishments plus some transportation will be laid on.”
Seven-year break
The inaugural J&K Open will be staged at the stunning Royal Springs Golf Course from September 15 to 18 and marks the return of men’s professional golf to the Kashmir Valley after seven years.
The PGTI staged its last two events in the region in Pahalgam and Srinagar in July 2014.
Meanwhile, for those who have missed out on trying to push for places on the main tour, the PGTI Qualifying School is scheduled to return in January next year after 2020-21 was clubbed into one wraparound season.
The combined 2020-2021 season has so far witnessed 10 tournaments, seven of which were staged between November 2020 and March 2021, after the outbreak of the pandemic.
The PGTI formulated and followed strict regulations and guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy environment during tournaments which contributed to the successful staging of the seven events held after the outbreak of the pandemic.
PGTI board member and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, said,American Express has seen great value in this partnership and we at PGTI would like to ensure that this is a long-term relationship.
“We’re also proud to announce our partnership with Amrutanjan Health Care Limited, one of the oldest and most reputed Indian health care companies.
“I want to urge more corporates to join the bandwagon. There is tremendous potential in the game as has been seen at the Olympics with the fabulous performance of Aditi Ashok.
“If we come forward and support our golf players they can easily become world champions and medal winners.”
The schedule
September 2 to 5: Golconda Masters Telengana Open presented by Vooty and Haldi at Hyderabad Golf Club (Rs 40 lakh).
September 8 to 11: Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship presented by Haryana Government and Panchkula Golf Club (Rs 50 lakh).
September 15 to 18: J&K Open presented by J&K Tourism at Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar (Rs 40 lakh).
October 5 to 8: Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship presented by Delhi Golf Club (Rs 50 lakh).
October 12 to 15: Jaipur Open at Rambagh Golf Club (Rs 40 lakh).
October 25 to 31: IndianOil Servo Masters at Digboi Golf Links (Rs 60 lakh)
November 11 to 14: Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational presented by TAKE at Chandigarh Golf Club (Rs 1.5 crore).
November 25 to 28: ICC-RCGC Open Golf Championship at Royal Calcutta Golf Club (Rs 40 lakh).
December 1 to 4: Pune Open Golf Championship at Poona Club Golf Course (Rs 40 lakh).
December 16 to 19: Tata Steel Tour Championship at Golmuri and Beldih Golf Course in Jamshedpur (Rs 1.5 crore).
Also read: PGTI schedule back on stream, starts with Telengana Open from Sept. 2
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