PGTI Unveils Thrilling Schedule for Early 2025 Season
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Jan 13 (NationPress) The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has officially revealed an enticing and lucrative lineup for the initial phase of the 2025 season, set to commence in February with a staggering Rs 15.66 crore in overall prize money. Kicking off the season, players can look forward to 11 consecutive weeks of relentless golfing excitement spread across multiple venues from February through April, with a total prize pool of INR 15.66 crore (excluding the Indian Open).
A major highlight of the season's first half includes the introduction of four new tournaments: the Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship (prize money: INR 1 crore, Venue: Fairway Golf & Lake Resort, Naya Raipur), PGTI Invitational (prize money: INR 1.5 crore, Venue: Jaypee Greens Golf Resort, Greater Noida), Indorama Open Golf Championship (prize money: INR 2 crore, Venue: Kalhaar Blues & Greens, Ahmedabad), and Calance Open (prize money: INR 1 crore, Venue: Delhi NCR). These new events also signify the initiation of PGTI's partnership with fresh title sponsors, including the Government of Chhattisgarh.
The PGTI has previously hosted events across 16 states, two Union Territories, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. With the launch of the Chhattisgarh Open, the PGTI is set to expand its reach into the state, marking its presence in a total of 17 states across India.
Expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship, the inaugural professional golf event in the state, Arun Sao, Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, stated: "I am thrilled to support the staging of the first-ever professional golf event in Chhattisgarh alongside the PGTI. The inaugural Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship will be crucial in promoting the state as an appealing golfing destination and securing its place on the global golfing map. This event will not only attract top professionals from India and abroad to Chhattisgarh but also motivate aspiring golfers in the state to dream big and aim high.
The Kapil Dev-Grant Thornton Invitational (prize money: INR 2 crore) will return for its third edition, relocating to Prestige Golfshire Club in Bengaluru.
Additionally, three international events are scheduled for the first half of 2024, including the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Hero Indian Open (prize money: USD 2.25 million) and the Challenge Tour co-sanctioned Kolkata Challenge and Delhi Challenge (both with prize money of USD 300,000 each).
Another significant update in the first half is PGTI's collaboration with sports development firm Victorious Endeavours, whose brand Victorious Choice will serve as a Tour Partner for PGTI.
Rahul Mehta, Owner of Victorious Choice, commented, "It is a privilege and honor for us to partner with PGTI, led by a team that includes the legendary Kapil Dev and the dynamic Amandeep Johl, both of whom are committed to setting new standards in the sport. As a sports development company, Victorious Endeavours is proud to collaborate with the finest golfing talent in the nation. The creation of Victorious Choice aims to elevate the 'Joy of Golfing' experience, and we couldn't have asked for a better partnership."
Another significant advancement is the revival of PGTI's second-tier tour after a five-year hiatus, marked by the introduction of PGTI NexGen events. Three PGTI NexGen events, each with a prize purse of INR 20 lakh, are scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, taking place at venues including Phillaur, Kapurthala, and Golden Greens (Gurugram).
Compared to the first half of 2024, the total prize purse for the initial phase of the 2025 season has increased by INR 4.5 crore, and the number of events has risen from nine to 11.
"At the PGTI, we are incredibly excited to present a busy first half of the season with more events and a higher prize fund available for professionals than in previous years. This aligns with PGTI's core mission to create maximum playing opportunities for our Indian professionals. We appreciate our new title sponsors and tour partners for their support and for sharing our vision of advancing Indian professional golf. These new partnerships reflect the positive growth trajectory of Indian golf," stated Kapil Dev, President of PGTI.
"We are also eager to explore new territories by bringing the tour to Chhattisgarh for the first time, thus broadening PGTI's base throughout the country. The launch of the PGTI NexGen events is another key development that will aid in establishing a robust talent pipeline for the future. I wish all players the best of luck," he added.
