Latest news with #Johl
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Loyalty is important, says Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: When the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) announced the schedule for the first half of the season, its president Kapil Dev brought to the table a steaming cup of coffee and an announcement that provided a caffeine boost to the calendar. This time, he sipped from a glass of chilled fresh lime water. And his response to a query on the upcoming rebel franchise Indian Golf Premier League was cool as ever. 'Patang koh toh udne do (Let the kite fly first).' 'It's always a pleasure when money is invested in golf. A time may come when it may work out (with the IGPL). But today it's not possible. My job is to look after 350 professionals, theirs is to look after 20 or more. I have to see the larger picture for my team, my board, everybody. I have no problem with that but loyalty is important. People who work for 'A' cannot work for 'B',' Kapil said, as PGTI unveiled the schedule for second half of the season. The riposte also came in other numbers. The minimum of 15 tournaments between Aug and Dec will offer a combined purse of Rs 17 crore increasing the season's prize money close to Rs 33 crore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now For the record, that is an increase of Rs 8 crore from last season. The European Tour and PGTI co-sanctioned DP World India Championship will add a further $4 million to the kitty. Moreover, there are three tournaments in the second-tier NextGen series with prize money of Rs 20 lakh each. There was an array of sponsors too, with PGTI announcing new partnerships and strengthening some old ones. IGPL, meanwhile, has partnered with the Women's Golf Association of India and the Indian Golf Union (IGU) to promise a franchise-based mixed team championship with cityowned squads. They have roped in the likes of Gaganjeet Bhullar, Shiv Kapur, SSP Chawrasia, Gaurav Ghei etc as mentors, with former cricketer Yuvraj Singh as the brand ambassador. The format is expected to be three-day events with no cuts. 'Golf can be an expensive sport but this platform with provide an opportunity for the youngsters to finance themselves as money is guaranteed,' Ghei had said earlier. But PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl begs to differ. 'If you're going to be at the highest level, it has to be competitive. If you don't create those kind of opportunities for the Indian boys and they start getting used to free money, you're never going to create world champions who are going to go and play on the DP World Tour, the Olympics and the Asian Games and get you medals,' Johl said. 'If you're going to start giving them freebies, after a while they're going to get so used to freebies that they will stop working hard. That way, I will be ruining their future,' he reiterated. Johl also said he and Dev had 'positive discussions' with the PGA and European Tours during the British Open at Royal Portrush. 'As soon as we have an announcement from them, we shall bring it all to you,' he added. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
PGTI announces golf league; more prize money
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) CEO Amandeep Johl has said that talks are now ongoing for the forming of a golf league for professional golfers in the country. This development comes after the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), which is not affiliated with the PGTI, was announced earlier this year. The PGTI held a press conference on Saturday to announce the prize money for the second half of the golf season in India, and onboarding new sponsors like Indian Oil and Amul to PGTI events. The premier golf body of India announced that there would be a minimum of 15 tournaments in the second half of the season from August to December with a total prize money of Rs 17 crores. This takes the total season's prize money to Rs 33 crores and does not include the Indian Open and the DP World India Championships. It was also announced that the prize money for the current season had risen by Rs 8 crores from last season. The crowning event for the PGTI will be the DP World India Championships, where newly-minted Masters winner Rory McIlroy is set to headline the field at the Delhi Golf Club. With a prize purse of $4 million, that event will be the richest ever golf event to be staged in India. Johl also announced that India would host three NextGen events with prize money of Rs 20 lakh in Patna, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar. The talks for a new league are ongoing as well, and PGTI CEO Johl said that the league would take place this year itself. 'We have got very good offers and in the next few weeks we will sign a deal. It will be the PGTI League and it will only be for professional players. The league has to be about pro golfers and can't have amateurs in it,' Johl added. Franchise based model Johl also spoke about the format he envisaged for the league, saying it would be a franchise based model. 'In my opinion, it would be head-to-head games between players from different franchises. Can you imagine Gaganjit Bhullar playing Jeev Milkha Singh one-on-one? That's golf and that's what we're trying to do with the league,' said Johl. Also present at the press conference was PGTI president Kapil Dev. The former India captain said that his organisation had no issues with IGPL and praised the organisation for bringing more cash into the sport. He then said that his responsibility wasn't to take care of twenty top golfers but rather 250 golfers from the country. 'I think loyalty is very important. Like the cricket board has established themselves, we want to establish ourselves. This organisation looks after all professionals, not just a group of people,' said the 1983-World Cup winning captain at the press conference.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Professional Golf Tour Of India Set To Launch Franchise League
Last Updated: The PGTI league is expected to feature a one-on-one match-play format to increase spectator interest, inspired by successful models in other sports. The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is on the brink of launching a franchise-based league exclusively for professionals, tour CEO Amandeep Johl disclosed on Saturday. 'Yes, we are definitely going to start a league. We've got some very good offers, and within the next few weeks, we will sign a deal. It will be the PGTI League – strictly for professionals," Johl said. Johl elaborated that a franchise league must be centred around elite competition, explaining why the model excludes amateurs. 'A league can't be for amateurs. IPL is for professional cricketers. Football leagues around the world don't get amateurs to play, they field professionals. People come to watch high-quality sport, and golf is no different," he stated. The proposed format may include up to 10 franchises, each owning a roster of professional golfers in a team setup, with fixtures spread across several weeks. 'People want to come and watch high-class golf. My idea of a league is different from others – while some are doing it for amateurs, I want to do it for hardcore professionals," Johl asserted. 'If I'm a franchisee owner, I've got four, five, or six players on my team, and they go head-to-head with another team – one-on-one match play," Johl explained. 'Imagine Gaganjeet Bhullar playing Jeev Milkha Singh one-on-one, that's golf. People will come and watch that. People will say, 'I'm backing Jeev' or 'I'm backing Gaganjeet'. That's the kind of excitement we want to create," he concluded. With PTI Inputs view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
PGTI in advanced stages to launch pro-only franchise league: Johl
New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is in the final stages of launching a franchise-based league exclusively for professionals, tour CEO Amandeep Johl revealed on Saturday. 'Yes, we are definitely going to start a league. We've got some very good offers, and within the next few weeks, we will sign a deal. It will be the PGTI League—strictly for professionals," Johl said. Explaining the rationale behind the pro-only model, Johl said a franchise league must be built around elite competition. 'A league can't be for amateurs. IPL is for professional cricketers. Football leagues around the world don't get amateurs to play, they field professionals. People come to watch high-quality sport, and golf is no different," he said. The proposed format may feature up to 10 franchises, each owning a roster of professional golfers in a team setup, with fixtures spread across multiple weeks. 'People want to come and watch high-class golf. My idea of a league is different from others—while some are doing it for amateurs, I want to do it for hardcore professionals," Johl asserted. The league is expected to introduce a one-on-one match-play format to enhance spectator interest, borrowing from successful models in other sports. 'If I'm a franchisee owner, I've got four, five, or six players on my team, and they go head-to-head with another team—one-on-one match play," Johl said. 'Imagine Gaganjeet Bhullar playing Jeev Milkha Singh one-on-one—that's golf. People will come and watch that. People will say, 'I'm backing Jeev or 'I'm backing Gaganjeet'. That's the kind of excitement we want to create," he said. PTI ATK AT AT AT view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 21:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PGTI to players: Reaffirm allegiance or face expulsion
PUNE: Is Indian golf in for a 'LIV' moment? The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has asked its players to sign a form, re-affirming their allegiance to the body and declaring they would not compete in any rival tournament. The move comes when the tour is on a mid-season break, and in the wake of the launch of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), which has been sanctioned by the Indian Golf Union and approved by the sports ministry. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I shall not engage in, or associate with any activity, event or organization that is detrimental to the interests … of the Society. I shall not participate in any professional golf event that conflicts with official PGTIsanctioned tournaments without prior written approval … as per Clause 1.10 of the PGTI Handbook,' reads a part of the form sent out to the players. Amandeep Johl, CEO of the PGTI, sought to play down the development. 'There is nothing new in the form. It is part of the PGTI Handbook. This is Appendix 2, which is a standard registration form, which has been there forever,' Johl told TOI. He, however, admitted that the move was prompted by the imminent launch of a rival 'entity'. 'I have no problem with my player playing anywhere, in India or abroad, private or public, but you can't have your foot in both the boards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2 & 3 BHK by the Lake, Off Old Madras Road Brigade Lakecrest Learn More Undo That's not fair to the rest of the membership,' he said. 'Choose where you want to go, my best wishes. I am happy that there are 30 players who are going to earn anew livelihood, a better livelihood, if they feel it is a better livelihood.' Earlier, PGTI president and former India cricket captain Kapil Dev had written a strongly worded letter to the players warning them against being 'part of a REBEL TOUR' … 'designed to create division and disruption', urging them to 'stand united' or else face 'disciplinary action including suspension'. The IGPL envisions a citybased league with three-day events that have no cuts. It has so fgar signed up 30 players — a mix of active veterans like Gaganjeet Bhullar; seniors like Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa; as well as some competing on the PGTI Tour, and about 10 players from WPGTI. Its management includes some of the founding members of PGTI. Asked why PGTI couldn't co-sanction the league like the women's tour has done, Johl said the discussions failed at a nascent stage. 'They did reach out to us, but the demands were a little unacceptable to PGTI,' he said, without disclosing the details. Johl reminded that PGTI was the Indian body recognized by the US PGA and DP World Tour, and awarded ranking points which enables aplayer to represent the country at Olympics and Asiad. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
