New Delhi, March 29, 2008: The Aircel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has announced the SRF All India Professional Golf Matchplay Championship 2009, scheduled to be played at the Delhi Golf Club from March 31 to April 4, 2009. This event boasts a prize money of Rs. 20 lakh.

Besides Arjun Singh, the defending champion, this tournament will feature other leading professionals such as Mukesh Kumar, Gaurav Ghei, SSP Chowrasia, Digvijay Singh, Ashok Kumar, Shamim Khan, Rahul Ganapathy, Rahil Gangjee, C Muniyappa, Anirban Lahiri, Mohd Siddikur Rahman, Harendra Gupta, Harmeet Kahlon and Himmat Singh Rai, to name a few.

SRF has been involved in the oldest on-going professional event on the Indian circuit. The Bharat Ram family’s patronage of Indian professional golf began 34 years back with a 72 hole strokeplay event, which was previously known as the DCM Championship and then as the SRF Open. The SRF All India Professional Golf Matchplay Championship replaced the SRF Open in 2002, and is now one of the highlights of the Indian golf calendar. This event will be staged as a part of the Aircel PGTI calendar for the third time.

Reflecting on SRF’s association with the tournament, Mr. Ashish Bharat Ram, Managing Director, SRF Ltd, said, “As always, it’s a great prestige for us to host the SRF All India Professional Golf Matchplay Championship. Being the oldest tournament in the Indian Professional circuit, it continues to be one of the most prestigious tournaments. In addition, the fact that it is being held at Delhi Golf Club, one of the favourite venues of all professional golfers, adds to the prestige and attraction of the tournament.”

Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “On behalf of PGTI, I would like to thank SRF for their strong commitment and support towards promotion of professional golf in India. The PGTI is delighted to be associated with this unique tournament which adds a new dimension to the Aircel PGTI calendar. The SRF Matchplay Championship promises to be a fascinating affair as top professionals from the PGTI will go head-to-head in a knockout format.”

The SRF All India Professional Golf Matchplay Championship 2008 will have a field of 64 professionals. The tournament follows a knockout format, wherein matches up to the semifinal stage will be played over 18 holes. The final encounter will be decided over 36 holes. The first round, scheduled on Tuesday, March 31 will feature 32 matches. The second round on Wednesday, April 1 will witness 16 matches. The pre-quarters and the quarter-finals will be played on Thursday, April 2.

The semis are slated for Friday, April 3 while the final will be played on Saturday, April 4. The match for the third and fourth place will also be played on Saturday over 18 holes.