Written by: Manvi Singh

 

The TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) resumes its events from September 2 onboarding American Express and Amrutanjan Health Care Limited as their Tour Partner. 

 

 

 

 

As Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI announced the feature line-up of ten events to be staged from September to December 2021 opening with Golconda Masters Telangana Open 2021 presented by Vooty and Haldi from September 2.

 

He was glad to be back in the game after five months forced break due to the ongoing restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown as the previous season was flagged between November 2020 to March 2021. 

 

The PGTI is planned to formulate and follow strict guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy environment during tournaments as Uttam Singh Mundy stated, “Protocols are the same. Even after both vaccines, one needs to carry a negative RT-PCR report. The PGTI has ensured health safety via tying up with state hospitals and ensuring regular safety measures including temperature checks, sanitisation, social distancing and all of that in place.” With the outbreak of the pandemic, golf can be considered to be a sport that can and has always worked on the social distancing algorithm.

 

Mr Uttam Singh Mundy also grew inclusive of the opening golfing avenues in the paradise of Srinagar, Kashmir. Scheduling the J&K Open 2021 at the Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar with a prize purse of INR 40 Lacs, PGTI seemed contented with the return of men’s professional golf to the Kashmir Valley after seven years. 

 

“Kashmir itself is paradise. The golf course there is scenes and beautiful. I think it's a great package in all. We’re going back after 7 years hence I also believe it’ll be really competitive especially with all the players and their skill sets.” The CEO mentioned along with discussing the security concerns around the state. “Security will be provided at the airports and the hotels will be known too. The information regarding the hotels will be handed to the players before which is also be scrutinised and equally sanitised.”

 

As a recent visitor to the valley, Amandeep Johl, Member of the Governing Board of the PGTI and National Coach, Indian Golf Union mentioned, “I think they are quite secure as a lot of people have been there recently and the government is making huge efforts to make sure everyone is welcome. The government has assured us that it will be on full security. The Lieutenant Governor announced this tournament when he opened the good old Kashmir Golf Club. He has also added that he’d be looking forward to hosting the pros.”

 

On the backdrop of the Himalayas and the Dal Lake, PGTI tours would be a treat to be at as they are hoping for the players to have a great time there. 

 

 

 

 

On a celebratory note for the eminent cricketer and Board Member PGTI, Kapil Dev hailed the performance of Aditi Ashok and sharing how to grow golf one needs to join hands beyond the corporate sector working for the game. He further added, “Sports require the removal of duty on equipment in order to build a way through golf or any other sports. It's not big money for the country, which is why charging money on sports goods only makes it difficult. Along with which, infrastructure is the most important, which the government can help as the corporates helping is just fine.”

 

 

 

 

In a major boost to TATA Steel PGTI, the tour has signed significant partnerships with American Express and Amrutanjan Health Care Limited. As S Sambhu Prasad, Chairman & Managing Director, Amurtanjan Health Care Limited mentioned the good golf brings to society than just being a sport, “Golf has a great future because now even the government is noticing it, and I think that golf is in a way important for the ecosystem too. It keeps the green spaces alive in the city. Golf needs to be promoted for various reasons, not only for sports. As an official rehydration partner, Fruit Nik Electro Plus, an ORS drink in a bottle chooses to support the spirit of golf and its players as we’d like to see the next Tiger Woods from India.”

 

Scheduling the most phenomenal season, PGTI looks forward to having a season with no hindrance and let the players have a play to their heart’s content.

 

 

PGTI's schedule for 2021