Kolkata, 15-11-2013
McLeod Russel Tour Championship - Race to Royal Calcutta Golf Club to tee-off on December 26th
• PGTI’s Year Ending Championship
• Prize purse of Rs. 1.35 Cr, highest-ever in India
• Only top 60 players on the Rolex Rankings to be eligible
McLeod Russel, the world’s largest tea producer, and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), today announced the McLeod Russel Tour Championship 2013, the PGTI’s Year Ending Championship. The tournament will be staged at the esteemed Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) from December 26 – 29, 2013. The tournament’s prize purse of Rs. 1.35 crore is the highest-ever for a domestic event in India.
The event will see the top 60 players from the Rolex Rankings 2013 compete for top honours. The tournament will be a 72-hole stroke-play championship and there will be no cut applied after 36 holes. All players will be guaranteed prize money. The Pro-Am event preceding the tournament will be played on December 24th and 25th.
While the inaugural edition of the McLeod Russel Tour Championship in 2012 carried a prize purse of Rs. 1.25 crore, the second edition has an increased prize purse of Rs. 1.35 crore. The prize money for the next edition in 2014 will witness a further increase to Rs. 1.5 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Aditya Khaitan, Managing Director, McLeod Russel, said, “After the success of 2012, we are very happy to be hosting the second edition of the McLeod Russel Tour Championship. This is our small way of giving golf a boost in this region and we hope that it will eventually lead to the growth of the game. McLeod Russel’s heritage is based on values, culture and commitment and a strong belief in supporting and backing the right talent, and keeping that in mind, we will be sponsoring one professional and two amateur golfers from Kolkata for the 2014 season. We hope this will help the young golfers in taking the next steps in realizing their full golfing potential. We will be on the lookout for budding golfers in the future as well, and have put in place a committee to evaluate and identify budding golfers. We take this opportunity to thank the PGTI and the Royal Calcutta Golf Club for the opportunity to host the Championship this year. We are committed to the McLeod Russel Tour Championship and in the development of golf.”
Announcing the event, Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “It is always great to be back at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC). The race for the Rolex Player of the Year at the 2013 McLeod Russel Tour Championship will make it a befitting week with our top players and invited Indian golf icons making it the strongest ever player field at a PGTI championship. We thank McLeod Russel for their strong support to professional golf and look forward to an exciting week at the richest ever prize purse domestic championship of Rs. 13.5 million.”
Mr. Gaurav Ghosh, General Committee Member, RCGC, said, “On behalf of the members and the committee, I would like to thank McLeod Russell and PGTI for bringing the tournament to the Royal for the second year.”
About PGTI:
Formed in 2006, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is the recognised official body of professional golf in India. PGTI's objective is to promote professional golf in the country, as well as to give players an opportunity to be involved in the decision making on all aspects of the game. Headed by Mr. Kapil Dev (President), PGTI's governing body comprises leading Indian golf professionals. PGTI currently has over 300 members.
For information on PGTI, please contact:
Nikhil Kalaan
Media Manager - PGTI
Mobile: 9910974846
Email: media@pgtofindia.com
