Hyderabad, 04-02-2020

Vooty and Haldi Presents Golconda Masters Golf Championship 2020 Powered by Telangana Tourism to tee off 2020 TATA Steel PGTI season on February 5

• Sixth edition of event to offer Prize Purse of Rs. 40 lakh • Field to feature Rashid Khan, Khalin Joshi, Aman Raj, Viraj Madappa and former champions Udayan Mane and Harendra Gupta

The Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India, today announced the Vooty and Haldi Presents Golconda Masters Golf Championship 2020 Powered by Telangana Tourism which will be held at the Hyderabad Golf Club (HGC) from February 5 - 8, 2020, and will carry a prize purse of Rs. 40 lakh. The Pro-Am event of the season-opener will be held on February 9.

The tournament which will witness participation by 126 golfers (123 professionals and three amateurs) is supported by Presenting Partner Vooty Golf County and Haldi Golf County, Powered By Partner Telangana Tourism, Associate Partner Incredible India, Host Partner Hyderabad Golf Association and News Partner WION.

The top Indian professionals in the fray include Asian Tour regulars Rashid Khan (2019 PGTI Order of Merit champion), Khalin Joshi, Aman Raj and Viraj Madappa as well as other leading players such as former champions Udayan Mane (2018 winner) and Harendra Gupta (2015 winner), to name a few. The foreign challenge will be led by the Sri Lankan trio of Mithun Perera, N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran as well as Bangladesh’s Md Dulal Hossain and Md Sayum.

The local challenge will be led by Hyderabad-based players including professionals such as Haider Hussain, Mohd Azhar, Venkkat Gautham and Rupinder Singh Gill as well as amateurs such as Hardik S Chawda, Rahul Ajay and Shawn Reddy.

Former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey will be playing his first event as a professional at the Golconda Masters 2020. Tirkey, a three-time Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist, had last month played the PGTI Qualifying School 2020 in Ahmedabad.

Shri B Venkatesham, IAS, Secretary to Government of Telangana, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture Department, said “We are delighted to be associated with the sixth edition of the Golconda Masters. The tournament provides us the perfect platform to showcase the state of Telangana and the city of Hyderabad as a top-class tourist destination. The event also helps us promote the majestic Hyderabad Golf Club as a world-class golfing destination as it is a one-of-its-kind golfing venue set against the backdrop of the historic Golconda Fort. We wish the players all the best and look forward to yet another successful event.”

Mr. K Prithvi Reddy, CEO, Vooty Golf County & Haldi Golf County, said, “We are extremely delighted to associate with the Golconda Masters 2020 conducted by the Professional Golf Tour of India. As part of our commitment to present a delightful golf experience, it is an honour to be a part of the tournament and encourage the young talents.”

Mr. J Vikramdev Rao, President, HGA, said, “The Hyderabad Golf Association looks forward to hosting the sixth edition of the Golconda Masters which has over the years emerged into one of the marquee events on the PGTI. The depth of the field this year and the top-class playing conditions at the golf course, make for an exciting week of golfing action. I wish the players all the best.”

Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, said, “After the 2019 season we’re excited to begin the 2020 season with the Vooty and Haldi presents Golconda Masters Golf Championship 2020. The Golconda Masters has emerged as an important stop on the TATA Steel PGTI calendar over the last six years and continues to grow in popularity with each passing season, a fact reflected in the strong field at the tournament this year. We look ahead to yet another pulsating week of golf at the world-class Hyderabad Golf Club. We thank the Hyderabad Golf Association, Telangana Tourism, Vooty, Haldi and Incredible India for their support in staging the Golconda Masters for the sixth year in succession.”

Promoted by the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation and the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA), the 212-acre expanse provides an 18-hole, 6200 yard, par-71 layout that also features a floodlit driving range, a pro shop, a golf fitting shop, and training & practice facilities. A modern clubhouse with dining hall, lounge, open deck, change rooms, and trained staff is also in place.

The mission of the project is to set up an international standard golf course, a golf training academy and to put Hyderabad on the International Golfing map.  The ‘Best Tourism Friendly Golf Course’ award bestowed on it by National Tourism, reiterates the pleasant experience that HGA provides. The Hyderabad Golf Club offers 18 challenging holes that bring players up close with the heritage and beauty of the Deccan hinterland - Golconda Fort and Naya Quila in particular.