New Delhi, Oct 16 The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) on Friday announced a player support programme under which its top 30 players on the Order of Merit will receive up to Rs 3 lakh each to cover expenses for overseas qualifying schools and Rs 10 lakh for those who secure qualification.
The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on Indian professionals seeking to earn tour cards on international circuits, including the DP World Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour.
PGTI president Kapil Dev said the organisation would make every effort to provide Indian golfers with greater opportunities to compete internationally.
“We will do everything in our power to enable our players to get maximum playing opportunities on the international stage,” he said.
PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl Johl said the traditional pathway for Indian golfers to reach the DP World Tour was through the Asian Tour, but changes in the golf ecosystem in recent years had made the transition more difficult.
“Now that we are once again aligning with the Asian Tour, there will be a stronger international pathway for our players,” he said.
The PGTI is also working towards hosting Asian Development Tour events next year and is hopeful of staging Asian Tour events, besides increasing the number of co-sanctioned tournaments that offer world-ranking points and opportunities to improve prospects of Olympic qualification.
The organisation is also exploring ways to improve access to practice facilities, expand the game in tier-two and tier-three cities through the NexGen Series, and increase prize money and the number of tournaments on the domestic calendar.
(PTI News)
