Bhubaneswar, Nov 3 (NationPress) The first-ever Dilip Tirkey Invitational is set to take place at the stunning Bhubaneswar Golf Club from November 4 to 6. This tournament is the eighth and concluding event of the 2025 Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) NEXGEN season and represents PGTI's inaugural appearance in Odisha.

Offering a lucrative prize purse of Rs 20 lakh, the winner will receive a cheque amounting to Rs 2,54,000.

Seventy-two players will compete over three rounds (54 holes), with the cut being made after two rounds (36 holes). The top-36 players and ties will qualify for the third and final round.

The event boasts a lineup of elite professional golfers from throughout India. Notable local participants include professionals Ankit Padhi and Satya Ranjan Pattanaik, along with amateur Pradeep Bhagat.

Currently, the PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit is led by Sanjeev Kumar from Lucknow, with total earnings of Rs 7,08,740 this season.

The top performer in this year's NEXGEN Order of Merit will gain an exemption on the main tour (PGTI) for the 2026 season.

Thus far, PGTI has hosted events across 17 States, 2 Union Territories, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. With the Dilip Tirkey Invitational, PGTI expands its presence to 18 States.

Indian Hockey Legend & Tournament Host Dilip Tirkey expressed, “I am genuinely thrilled to host the Dilip Tirkey Invitational Golf Tournament, the very first professional golf event in Bhubaneswar, at the Bhubaneswar Golf Club from November 4th to 6th. This tournament, organized in collaboration with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), signifies a significant milestone in promoting top-tier golf in Odisha.”

“I have adopted golf as my second sport following hockey, aiming to cultivate it at the grassroots level so that young people can view it as a viable career. I will persist in promoting the game in our state and fostering opportunities for budding golfers.”

“I would like to sincerely thank Kapil Dev, President of PGTI, for selecting the Bhubaneswar Golf Club as the venue for the PGTI NexGen event. My heartfelt gratitude also extends to Game Start, Tamanna, and Nitai for their unwavering support in bringing this event to life. Together, we aim to position Bhubaneswar as a rising hub for professional golf and boost participation in the sport across the state.”

Amandeep Johl, CEO of PGTI, stated, “We are excited to broaden the reach of professional golf in India by hosting an event in Odisha for the first time. This effort is part of our broader goal to expand the game nationwide through the PGTI NEXGEN Series.

“We appreciate the tournament host, Dilip Tirkey, for sharing PGTI’s vision of promoting the sport in Odisha and supporting this event. Tirkey, a revered figure in Indian hockey and current President of Hockey India, is also an avid golfer who previously participated in several PGTI tournaments. We are thankful for his initiative to introduce a professional golf tournament to his home state, which will surely inspire a new generation of golfers in Odisha.

“Odisha has excelled in Indian hockey, and we now wish to capitalize on this opportunity to harness the state's significant golfing potential. We anticipate a thrilling week of golf as this event serves as the season finale of the NEXGEN Series, with much at stake for the competing professionals.”

The Bhubaneswar Golf Club is the city's premier golf destination, featuring a 9-hole course with plans to evolve into a full-fledged 18-hole course in the future. Located within the info city, it is flanked by leading IT companies on one side and scenic forests and hills on the other, providing breathtaking views from the clubhouse pavilion.