Jyoti Randhawa (from left), New Zealand’s Michael Campbell and tournament host Jeev Milkha Singh share a lighter moment at Tuesday’s launch of the HSBC India Legends Championship in New Delhi on Tuesday.
By Rahul Banerji
Nine Indians will line up for the inaugural HSBC India Legends Championship to be played at the Jaypee Greens this week including tournament host Jeev Milkha Singh and three-time Indian Open winner Jyoti Randhawa.
The $500,000 no-cut event, the first formal senior (50 years and over) golf event in the country, will be held over 54 holes and contested by a field of 64.
The HSBC India Legends Championship is the 11th leg of the Staysure Legends Tour, the circuit for senior players earlier part of the European Tour.
The event will feature former US Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand, who got the better of the Tiger Woods at the 2005 US Open in Pinehurst for his first and only major title.
Campbell also won the lucrative HSBC World Match Play Championship the same year putting him on a short list that includes Gary Player, Hale Irwin and Ernie Els before retiring in 2015.
Now 55, the Sydney-based father of two is a regular on the Legends Tour, which offers a season-long prize purse of 18 million euro.
The winner qt Jayoee Greens will earn $74,250, the runner-up $49,000 and $32,700 for the golfer taking third place. The $500,000 prize purse will be divided down to the last-placed finisher.
Looking ahead
Said event host Jeev Milkha Singh at Tuesday’s formal launch, “I hope the players have a great experience and enjoy our culture and cuisine during their stay here.
“In India we are known to welcome visitors with folded palms and open arms, and I want to make sure everyone returns home with warm memories of this visit.”
Added insurance major and Legends Tour chairman Ryan Howsam, said, “There is a growing part of the demographic developing in India that is taking up golf and with our profile and our players, the HSBC India Legends Championship is a great fit.
“India is an economic powerhouse and the timing for us to be here is great. We want to help improve participation in golf in India and assist stakeholders in the creation of more facilities for the public and visitors.”
The event is co-sanctioned by the Professional Golf Tour of India and will be played over 54 holes from Friday, preceded by two Pro-Ams on Wednesday and Thursday which will see the Legend Tour golfers turn out alongside a number of invitees.
The other Indians in the field will be domestic legends Mukesh Kumar and Vijay Kumar, Digvijay Singh, Harmeet Kahlon, all Asian Tour winners, administrator-coach Amandeep Johl, Vishal Singh and Sanjay Kumar.
Sri Lanka’s Anura Rohana, a multiple winner on the PGTI will also feature in the tournament.
Said Jaypee Greens senior general manager Dhruv Pal Singh, “Our course has consistently upheld its reputation as a championship-level course, and we are honoured and ready to host India’s inaugural Legends Tour event for which we have prepared meticulously.”
This will be the first men’s professional tournament at Jaypee Greens since 2013.
Big names
Besides Campbell, who had 15 other wins worldwide, the field also has South Africa-based Brazilian Adilson da Silva, a six-time Legends Tour winner who had the honour of hitting the first tee shot when golf returned to the Olympics in his home country in 2016.
Others include South African James Kingston (21 wins including two on the European Tour, and three on the Legends Tour), Sweden’s first-ever Ryder Cup player, Joakim Haeggman (10 wins including three in Europe and one on the Legends Tour) and fellow Swede Jarmo Sandelin.
In his heyday, Jeev was twice Asian number one, in 2006 and 2008 and won four times each on the European and Japan tours and once in Korea. Besides his three Indian Open titles, Randhawa won eight times on the Asian Tour and once in Japan.
Jeev, who has played all four majors, was the first Indian to tee up at the Augusta Masters in 2007. A former captain of Asia in the EurA sia Cup his list of achievements includes a T9 placing at the 2008 PGA Championships.
On the Legends Tour which he has played since 2022, Jeev has had five top 10 finishes including a shared fifth at the 2023 Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.
So far, The Legends Tour has completed 10 events, including three majors. The HSBC India Legends will be followed by seven more tournaments with the finale (the MCB Tour Championship) in Mauritius.
Also read: Jeev Milkha Singh to host Legends Tour’s India debut even
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