Big-time golf around the corner

8220;The growth of the Indian economy has coincided with the emergence of golf as a major sport in the country. We are always keen to expand our tournament portfolio into new territories and we believe that the Indian Masters offers huge potential,8221; said George O8217;Grady, chief executive of European PGA tour.

8220;We not only bring a golf tournament but also an ensemble of global television and news media coverage, an influential, high-spending consumer audience, day-long access to over two million spectators annually at European Tour tournaments, and more importantly for amateurs the opportunity to play alongside the best golfers in the world,8221; O8217;Grady told The Indian Express.

The tournament, will involve an approximate expenditure of 10 million with commensurate revenue. 8220;This would be a great advertisement for India as a whole,8221; he added.

When asked about the planned future path for the tournament Kieth Waters, the EPGA director of International Policy, said: 8220;We are taking it two years at a time. We will see how the tournament shapes up, how the players feel about it, the atmosphere, the course and the city. And only after that will we be able to decide the future course of action.8221;

Water8217;s opinion was echoed by Ranji Chaudhary, the chairman of Delhi Golf Club, who dubbed the arrival of European tour as a watershed moment for Indian golf.

8220;This is high time to shed the perception of golf being a rich man8217;s game. The amount of interest this tour can generate is phenomenal. I would appeal to the government to be a bigger partner in promotion of golf and I can assure of better results than many other sports,8221; he said.