How Kapil Dev is powering rise of golf in India

• PGTI launched its first league, bridging the gap between fans and golf icons.
• Kapil Dev played golf with Sadhguru, illustrating the sport's accessibility.
• Kapil Dev's presence boosts Indian golf, prize money rose to ₹35 crore.

New Delhi, Dec 11: You watch a cricket match, admire your heroes, but you can never actually step onto the field and play alongside them. Golf, however,

is one of those rare sports where a common man can share the same fairway with a star. This was exactly the thought behind PGTI's first league, as envisioned by one of its promoters, Amit Kharbanda.

And just hours before the league's launch, PGTI president Kapil Dev was seen playing a friendly round with Sadhguru, Jagadish "Jaggi" Vasudev, at a city golf course - a perfect illustration of what Kharbanda meant. Golf doesn't just bridge the gap between fans and icons; it dissolves it completely.

With a legend like Kapil Dev - someone who can look far beyond his own achievements and devote himself to nurturing another sport - Indian golf is in inspiring hands. His commitment to helping the game grow and produce future champions signals that this is only the beginning. A humble start, yes, but one that carries the promise of a much bigger future for golf in the country.

So, who wouldn't want to play golf with Paaji! Sadhguru wished for a round, and he got one. "Sadhguru is a great friend and good golfer. He has a lovely swing and he can putt very well too. He was very promising, and I enjoyed every moment of it," Kapil Dev told myKhel during the inauguration of the PGTI league.

A light-hearted match, a spiritual icon with a surprisingly sharp game, and a cricket legend enjoying every shot - the moment perfectly captured the spirit of golf's accessibility and charm.

Kapil Dev is to Indian golf what Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan are to Hindi cinema - accessible, warm, and universally loved. Every golfer in the country, from amateurs to seasoned players, feels they can walk up to this legend and share a moment with him. In many ways, cricket's loss has truly become golf's gain. Kapil's passion, presence, and generosity have infused the sport with new energy, opening doors and inspiring players across all levels

That is why PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl puts it quite elegantly. "Last year, PGTI conducted 21 events, and this year we have managed 28 - and that's without the big leagues. Even the total prize money has risen from ₹24 crore to ₹35 crore in just one year. This clearly means something right is happening here. And for that, a big thanks goes to Paaji," Johl said bluntly while repeatedly admitting that Kapil's presence has catalysed real, measurable growth for Indian golf.