PGTI CEO Uttam Singh Mundy (from left), defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jamshedpur Golf captain D.B. Sundara Ramam, ranking leader Veer Ahlawat Jamshedpur Golf CEO Digvijay Singh with the Tata Steel Tour Championship trophy in Jamshedpur on Wednesday. Image courtesy PGTI.
By Rahul Banerji
The season-ending Tata Steel Tour Championship event, featuring the top 62 professionals in the rankings tees off in Jamshedpur’s two courses on Thursday.
Defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar headlines a field that includes the past and present rankings leaders Om Prakash Chouhan (2023) and Veer Ahlawat (2024), 2022 topper Manu Gandas and a host of others.
The Rs 3 crore prize fund is the largest the PGTI has put on offer and will be held at the Beldih and Golmuri courses with no cut for the limited field, guaranteeing prize money for all participants, the PGTI said.
In all four rounds, half the field will play nine holes at Golmuri and nine at Beldih while the other half will play their first nine at Beldih and second nine at Golmuri.
From round two onwards, the leading groups as per the scores will play their first nine holes at Golmuri and second nine at Beldih. The prize presentation ceremony will be held at Beldih Golf Club on Sunday.
Heavyweight field
Besides 2020 and 2023 winner Bhullar, in the fray are two-time Indian Open winner S.S.P. Chawrasia, former champion Udayan Mane (2019, 2021), Rahil Gangjee, and Yuvraj Sandhu, to name a few.
The 2024 Tata Steel PGTI Ranking champion will be announced at the end of the event. The 2024 PGTI no. 1 will earn a full card on the DP World Tour for the 2025 season.
Jamshedpur Golf captain D.B. Sundara Ramam said at Wednesday’s launch, “At Tata Steel, we have always championed sports as a medium to inspire excellence and build communities.
“Hosting the PGTI tournament in Jamshedpur this year too underscores our commitment to nurturing golf and providing a platform for players to showcase their talent.
“As the Jamshedpur Golf Captain, it is particularly gratifying to see this championship held on our greens, reflecting our city’s deep connection to the game..”
Added PGTI chief executive Uttam Singh Mundy, “The Tata Steel Tour Championship promises yet another week of exhilarating golf as a stellar field will descend on the two outstanding venues of Beldih and Golmuri to compete for the biggest prize of the season.
“The event raises further interest among golf fans in the country as it will also decide the 2024 ranking champion. We wish the players all the best.”
The two venues are well-maintained, with the Dalma Hills in the background. While the Beldih Golf Course flaunts long fairways, Golmuri GC is a smaller, greener, boutique course that does not allow golfers any room for error.
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