New Delhi, Feb 23 (NationPress) The anticipation builds as a transformative tournament for professional golf in India, PGTI’s 72 The League, kicks off at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Delhi NCR on Tuesday.

The inaugural round launches on Tuesday, introducing two significant changes to the traditional Royal & Ancient game in the country – the revival of the matchplay format in Indian golf and the inclusion of a team aspect in professional play.

Six city-centric teams have been established – Charminar Champions, Kolkata Classics, Mumbai Aces, Nava Raipur, Rajasthan Regals, and UP Prometheans – each comprising 10 PGTI players.

The draw held on Monday featured Arjun Atwal, India’s sole PGA Tour champion and the League’s brand ambassador, along with the six team captains. This draw established the Order of Play, matching the Ajeetesh Sandhu-led Rajasthan Regals against Viraj Madappa’s Kolkata Classics.

In the other two first-round clashes, Charminar Champions will face UP Prometheans, while the Mumbai Aces will compete against Nava Raipur.

Play commences at 12 noon, with pairings finalized after the captains submit their eight player names for each round format. The remaining two players will serve as reserves.

Distinct from the traditional Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, 72 The League will feature two singles, two fourballs, and a foursome match in every round.

The fourball format, easily grasped as four balls are in play simultaneously, involves two players from each team. They play their individual golf balls, with the lowest score among the four winning the hole.

The foursome format, also known as alternate shot, sees two team players sharing one ball and alternating their shots. This format is widely regarded as one of the more challenging in the sport.

The teams engaged in a practice round at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Classic Golf & Country Club, where they frequently altered partners and formats to discover the best combinations ahead of the matches.

Leading the formidable Rajasthan team, Sandhu is joined by seasoned players S Chikkarangappa, power-hitter Yuvraj Singh, dynamic Akshay Sharma, and Italian Michele Ortolani. Madappa’s Kolkata squad boasts significant experience, featuring Rashid Khan, Khalin Joshi, Angad Cheema, and veteran Mukesh Kumar, who is 61 years old.

When asked about his strategy against Kolkata, Sandhu remarked: “I anticipate an exciting match. They possess a highly experienced team filled with winners, which equips them to handle the pressures of matchplay. Our primary focus will be to counteract that.”

“We’re a well-balanced team; we will strategize based on our players' current form and then finalize the play order for tomorrow,” he added.

Madappa commented: “Rajasthan is indeed a strong team with substantial depth. However, we have experience too, and our focus will be on ensuring that our pairs share good chemistry, which is crucial for complementing each other's games.”

Talwar, stepping in for Mumbai Aces in the absence of Veer Ahlawat, who is traveling from Kenya to Delhi, expressed that his team would draw energy from their two youngest players – 16-year-old Kartik Singh and 17-year-old Pritish Singh Karayat.

“We possess a very skilled and experienced team, but we also have the League’s two youngest players. Their youthful vigor and energy excite us. We explored various pairings and strategies today, and I was pleased with what I witnessed. The team is aligned,” stated Talwar.

Malik shared insights regarding his Nava Raipur team, which includes the current PGTI Order of Merit No1 and No2 – Honey Baisoya and American Jhared Hack – emphasizing a strong focus on the foursomes format.

“The most intriguing part for us will be the foursomes. Many in our team, like all players, are accustomed to the fourball format. However, the foursome is relatively untested, even in practice.

“We believe that the alternate shot, which holds three points, will be vital. Therefore, our strategy will prioritize making sure our pairings maximize our point potential.