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Chandigarh, Jan 8: The dichotomy that world golf faced in the post Covid-19 era, PGA Tour vs Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf, has touched the Indian shores as well. The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and Indian Golf Union (IGU)-backed Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) have created a golfing divide that has limited the choice of pro golfers to switch between two Tours.
Indian cricket legend and PGTI president Kapil Dev has banned players competing on the rival IGPL from taking part on his Tour, saying his major concern is safeguarding the livelihoods of 350 members.
This has already triggered court battles with banned players like Sachin Baisoya seeking justice. The likes of multiple international title winners like Gaganjeet Bhullar and SSP
Chawrasia in addition to 15 pros have been suspended from the PGTI.
Taking a strong stance against this development, Indian golf icon Jeev Milkha Singh, who was instrumental in the formation of the breakaway PGTI back in 2006 from the Professional Golf Association of India (PGAI), said that creation of IGPL opened new doors for Indian pros. Jeev recently ended a 13-year title drought by winning the season-ending leg of the IGPL Tour in Colombo.
"I have a simple answer for this. Competition is very good for the players. Who is gaining? Players. End of the day Tours run on the name of the players. All the players are gaining. More competitions, more money for the players. If there are no players, how will you find sponsors? The players now have a choice, whether they want to be on this side, or there. They have to take care of their livelihood," Jeev told MyKhel in an exclusive conversation at his residence.
Anirban Lahiri is a case in point. He had to endure heavy backlash after leaving the PGA Tour to shift to LIV Golf. However, the seven-time winner on the Asian Tour and two-time winner on the DP World Tour made a fortune after switching to the Saudi Arabia-backed venture. Since 2022, Lahiri has won more than $40 million in prize money, a strong testament to moving out of the set pattern. He is not only making good money but also finding more family time as compared to others with a shorter schedule.
After the PGTI joined hands with DP World Tour in late 2022 and cut ties with Asian Tour, Indian golfers have struggled to do well in international tournaments even on home soil. Last year, two new big-ticket events were staged in India - $2 million International Series India by Asian Tour and $4 million DP World India Championship - apart from the $2.5 million Hero Indian Open. However, Indians failed miserably in utilising the home advantage and couldn't even finish in the top-5, let alone winning any title.
The competitive gap between the Indian tour and DP World Tour is huge and the Asian Tour gave that cushion for Indians to steadily build confidence and reach higher echelons in the sport. The chain has been broken and the performance of Indian golfers since 2022 has almost nosedived. The last Indian to win an international title was Gaganjeet Bhullar in 2023 on the Asian Tour.
Jeev firmly believes that Indian golfers' natural progression should be to do well in Asia, then Europe and then America after they have done well on the domestic courses, something which the PGTI has completely ignored.
"I just feel that these boys, they are so good. They should try to achieve. First, I say, if you are good in India, then your goal should be to be top in Asia. Not Asia, go to Europe and then PGA. Get your world ranking in the top-50, so that you become a top-10 player, then you get a chance to go to PGA," Jeev said.
Manu Gandas, Om Prakash Chouhan and Veer Ahlawat had a disastrous outing on the DP World Tour after getting the card courtesy finishing in the top-3 of PGTI Order of Merit in the last two seasons, aggravated by problems adjusting to the chilly, windy conditions and links style layouts there.
Jeev had a word of wisdom for them as well as the reigning Order of Merit winner Yuvraj Sandhu, who is next in line to compete in Europe for the full season. "I agree conditions are different (chilly and windy) but it is only up to a player. How much fire he has in his heart and how strong is his mentality. If you get a chance in Europe, you should tell yourself, 'if I am playing with the top player in the world, I am good enough. That's why I am here for'. It's all in the mindset and one needs to prove it under pressure. If you don't have that attitude, you will never make it in life.
"The challenge is huge apart from how well you manage your mental setup, you are playing the Rory McIlroys of the world. Managing the weather is not easy but if they can do it, then why can't you do it? When there is a tournament in Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand, it is so hot and humid, they (Europeans) are falling. But if they are still winning, then what is the point? They also make adjustments. So, why can't you?," he asked.
Ultimately, Jeev Milkha Singh believes Indian golf's future hinges on embracing competition, restoring the Asia-Europe pathway and strengthening player mindset-because empowering golfers with choice, confidence and opportunity, he insists, is the only sustainable way forward for the sport.
