As many as 15 LIV Golf League stars and nine winners from the Asian Tour’s 2024 season will be teeing it up at the USD 2 million International Series India beginning on January 30. Reigning Major winner Bryson DeChambeau , who had top-six finishes in three of the four Majors in 2024, including a win at the US Open, heads a stellar lineup in the tournament. Six of the top 20 from last year’s LIV Golf League will be in the field as India becomes the latest country to host the International Series.

DeChambeau (8) is joined by Crushers GC team-mates Paul Casey (11) and Anirban Lahiri (16) while Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz of Torque GC (13) will line up alongside his skipper Joaquin Niemann (2), and compatriot Abraham Ancer (12) of Fireballs GC.

Other confirmations include Mito Pereira and Sebastian Munoz , which make it a clean sweep of Torque GC players, while Harold Varner III of 4Aces GC brings his mercurial talent to the iconic Gary Player-designed course at the award-winning DLF Golf and Country Club.

The International Series 2023 Rankings champion Andy Ogletree, a three-time winner, is also in the field along with RangeGoats GC player Peter Uihlein , a two-time champion on The International Series last season and runner-up in the rankings race behind Niemann.

Eight of the 10 Indian professionals confirmed have won on the Asian Tour. They are Bhullar (11), Lahiri (7), Jeev Milkha Singh (6), SSP Chawrasia (6), Sharma (2), Rashid Khan (2), Rahil Gangjee (2) and Ajeetesh Sandhu (1). The other confirmed Indians are Yuvraj Sandhu and Karandeep Kochhar. Shiv Kapur, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour, is the first reserve.

Interestingly, Lahiri (T-5 at the 2015 PGA), Sharma (T-8 at the 2023 Open) and Jeev Milkha (T-9 at the 2008 PGA) are the only Indians to have finished in the Top-10 in a Major.

A promising addition to the field is teenage amateur Kartik Singh, who was third at the 2024 Junior Players Championship. The 15-year-old Kartik, the highest-ranked Indian amateur, has also played the Junior Presidents Cup and was a member of the strong Asia-Pacific team which beat the European team to win the prestigious Bonallack Trophy in the UAE earlier this month.

International Series India marks the debut of the LIV Golf-backed series on the subcontinent.

A year after gaining attention by finishing runner-up in the Indian Open, Veer Ahlawat now steps up at the USD 8 million Dubai Desert Classic. Ahlawat, who turns 29 in two months, may not have won in India last year, but his second-place finish did help him win the Order of Merit of India, which earned him a DP World Tour Card. Ahlawat is one of the two Indians in the field in the Dubai Desert Classic this year. The other one being Shubhankar Sharma, who is making his eighth appearance in this event, often labelled as the Major of the Middle East.

“That second-place finish in India played a big role in my winning the Order of Merit and then I got a spot in the elite Dubai Desert Classic courtesy of the sponsors. It certainly gives me a massive boost to be able to get into this event, which has some of the biggest stars from the world of golf – major winners like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and so many stars,” said Ahlawat ahead of the event, which takes place at the Emirates Golf Club this week.

“The Dubai Desert Classic has always had a special attraction. I have never played in UAE even as an amateur and this event has been iconic and many of my seniors have figured in it and I always wanted to come here and play and now is my chance,” added the six-foot-tall Ahlawat.

“This is almost like India and I met so many who are familiar with Indian golf, so it has been great and I have just been here for a couple of days,” he added.

Ahlawat is the third Indian to benefit from the alliance between the Indian PGTI Tour and the DP World with the Order of Merit winner getting a card on the DP World Tour. The previous winners, who got onto the DPWT via this route were Manu Gandas (2023) and Om Prakash Chouhan (2024).

Ahlawat’s superb season included two titles and seven top-10 finishes including a runner-up finish at the USD 2.25 million Indian Open, which is India’s biggest DP World Tour event in India.

A year ago Sharma recorded his best finish in Dubai as he finished T-16 with cards of 72-71-70-70 and a total of 5-under, as Rory McIlroy won the Dubai event for the fourth time. With wins in 2023 and 2024, McIlroy is now gunning for an incredible three-in-a-row.

Golf superstar Tiger Woods was thrilled by son Charlie’s first hole-in-one, but Team Langer got the better of the Woods duo in a playoff for the PNC Championship family golf event crown on Sunday. The ace by 15-year-old Charlie Woods at the 176-yard, par-three fourth hole at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando briefly lifted the duo into the solo lead in the 36-hole two-player scramble event. The youngster watched his seven-iron shot as far as he could, but it took the cheers from the crowd to let him know it had landed some six feet from the pin and rolled into the cup.

A beaming Tiger Woods gave his son a hard hug, then a playful shove in celebration.

“It was a perfect seven-iron, so just kind of hit it,” Charlie Woods told Golf Channel as he walked toward the fourth green. “It was awesome! I didn’t think it went in.”

The elder Woods called it “an unbelievable moment”.

Charlie Woods just made his first ever hole-in-one!!

GOLF Channel pic.twitter.com/yEvN3HuYWP

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 22, 2024

“That two-hole stretch, that was his first eagle he ever made out there on three, and then his first hole-in-one,” the 15-time major champion said.

After grabbing a share of the overnight lead with a first-round 59, the Woods duo combined for a 57 on Sunday and a record-setting 36-hole score of 28-under.

But two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer and his son Jason, who were in the three-way tie for the lead to start the day, posted the same score.

At the first playoff hole, Bernhard Langer curled in an eagle putt to seal the duo’s second straight victory in the 20-team event.

Langer has now won six PNC titles — four with Jason and two with son Stefan.

Despite the tournament’s laid-back atmosphere, there were plenty of fireworks on Sunday.

Paddy Harrington, son of three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, also had a hole-in-one, saying his ace at the par-three eighth was the first of his life.

“I’ve never been as excited,” Padraig Harrington said. “I’ve never hit a shot that I’ve been as excited.”

The event was a chance for Tiger Woods, who turns 49 on December 30, to get a taste of some friendly competition for the first time since he missed the cut at the British Open at Royal Troon.

Woods, whose 82 US PGA Tour titles are tied with Sam Snead for most in history, has said he has a long way to go to be ready to return to elite tournament play after undergoing a sixth back surgery in September.

He also continues to deal with lower leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash, but was able to walk rather than use a cart for both rounds in Orlando, where the rules would have allowed it.

“I did a few things here and there,” Woods said, but added that for him the week “is all about family”.

“This is about bonding and it’s about having a great time, and we did that,” said Woods, whose daughter Sam caddied for him.

Golfer Tiger Woods is still hopeful of coming to India for a competitive event, something he has not been able to do for the 10 years he has been Hero’s Global Partner. Then, there is Pawan Munjal, a close friend of Woods, who is thrilled to have extended his partnership with the star-studded Hero World Challenge for another six years, till 2030, and with Woods to continue as their global partner till 2030. A third thing that brought a big smile to Munjal’s face was that he was able to bring to the Hero World Challenge field three players of Indian origin – Sahith Theegala, Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai.

The tournament, featuring 20 of the world’s top golfers, will commence on Thursday.

Munjal said, “If you remember, we had Anirban (Lahiri) at one time here, which was a great thing to happen. He was in the top-30 then. To have three boys of Indian origin in a field of the best and top-20 is a huge, huge thing for India.

“Me and many of you have been looking for an Indian star on the golfing map to really grow the game in India. I’m sure even if they’re not Indians but they are of Indian origin, I’m sure the whole nation is going to be very, very excited and very proud about this fact.” Indian-American Theegala is ranked 12th in the world, Indo-British Rai is 21st and Indian-American Bhatia is 31st as the entire field of 20 comprises players inside the top-40 in the world.

On the extension of their relationship with the tournament, Munjal said, “It was easy. We’ve had, as I said, 10 years of an incredible journey together which has benefited both of us, the foundation, Hero’s brand globally. There were no two thoughts about it.” Woods commented: “Well, this is exciting news for all of us at the foundation to be able to have Hero MotoCorp who have supported us here for the last 10 years and to have this relationship and our partnership continue until 2030 is truly amazing. We’re able to help and serve so many more youth because of it.

“All the players who’ve come down here over the years have supported this event, some of them have started their own foundations because of the impact that Pawan and I have had on this event and our various charities.

“We’ve had a great relationship and great partnership for the last 10 years, so I think it was a very natural thing for us to continue this relationship going forward through 2030 and hopefully we can make it better in the next five or so years, better than it was for the first 10 and then hopefully even bigger into the future.” Hero and Tiger Woods Foundation came together for the HWC in 2014 and will now be together till at least 2030, making it one of longest relationships on the PGA Tour.

Woods, who has often chosen HWC, which he hosts, as an event to test his fitness and preparation ahead of the following season, admitted, “Yeah, I am disappointed. I’m not physically ready yet to compete at this level. The times I have come back here, I was ready to start competing and playing again. Unfortunately, not this time. I still need to keep training to give myself the best chance going into next year and the events ahead.” On the issue of the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which funds the LIV series, Woods said, “I think all of us who have been a part of this process would have thought it would have happened quicker than this. Even if it did, we’re still at the regulations of the DOJ (Department of Justice) saying it’s giving us hominus dominus that it will go through.

“Even if we had gotten a deal done by now, it’s still in the DOJ’s hands, but we wish we would have had something more concrete and further along than we are right now. But things are very fluid, we’re still working through it, it’s happening daily. From a policy board standpoint or from an enterprise standpoint, things are moving and they’re constructive. But, yes, definitely moving.” On his return to competitive golf, Woods is still desirous and hopeful.

“The fire still burns to compete. The difference is the recovery of the body to do it is not what it used to be. I still love doing it, I love competing, I love competing in anything whether we’re playing cards or we’re playing golf. No matter what it is, I love competing,” said Woods.

The field at the Hero World Challenge, scheduled from Dec 5 to 8, is led by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who is also the FedEX champion, two-time Masters champion (2022 and 2024) and also the defending champion here.

The Golf Industry Association (GIA), a not-for-profit organisation founded in 2011 to promote various stakeholders of the nation’s golf industry, will be staging the 11th edition of their annual Golf & Turf Summit at the Oxford Golf Resort in Pune on October 17 and 18. This was announced during a Curtain Raiser press conference at the Press Club of India here on Friday. The 11th Annual Golf & Turf Summit is a pivotal event for the golf industry as it aims to foster collaboration among industry leaders, drive innovation, and promote sustainable practices.

The summit also serves as a critical platform for discussing industry trends, sharing best practices, and strengthening the collective efforts to enhance the overall golfing experience. It provides a unique opportunity for golf course owners, course managers, equipment suppliers, and other stakeholders to align their strategies and contribute to the sport’s growth and sustainability.

GIA president Anirudha Seolekar announced that this year’s Golf & Turf Summit will be focusing on integrating advanced turf management techniques and exploring the future of golf tourism.

“Golf tourism in India is on an upward swing. We have a rich legacy of the sport as a result of the British Raj. In the last two decades a plethora of privately-owned courses have been developed with superior member facilities.

However, there is a lot of scope to increase the awareness about them. This year’s Golf & Turf Summit will be focusing on golf tourism – a key objective of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Also, there will be some very insightful panel discussions on modern turf management techniques. We will also have a congregation of industry leaders and some eminent speakers from across the globe to share their vision and understanding about the golfing ecosystem,” Mr Seolekar, who is also the founder president of GIA, said.

GIA vice-president Anit Mehrotra informed that golf tourism has significantly contributed to the industry’s growth over the past financial year. Mr Mehrotra noted that the influx of international visitors has boosted revenue for golf courses and increased the global profile of golf destinations.

“To cater to the growing demand from golf tourists, there has been a surge in the development and upgrading of golf courses and facilities. New investments in golf course infrastructure, such as building new courses, upgrading existing ones, and enhancing amenities, have been prevalent. This development has further stimulated the golf industry by attracting more tourists and creating a cycle of growth,” Mr Mehrotra said.

GIA honorary treasurer Ravi Garyali highlighted that there have also been initiatives to introduce golf to under-represented communities through targeted programs and partnerships. Corporate sponsorships have played a crucial role in these efforts, helping to lower barriers and promote a more diverse and accessible golfing community.

Recent years have seen significant policy changes from the Government aimed at enhancing accessibility to golf. However, GIA Board member Deepali Shah Gandhi pointed out that both government bodies and corporations should become more focused on making the sport more inclusive. This includes reducing the cost of participation, investing in public golf facilities, subsidizing green fees for the youth and creating awareness about opportunities of employment in golf courses and all industries related to golf.

Further, present at the summit will be prominent bureaucrats from concerned ministries, golf course owners of the country, traders and manufacturers of golf equipment, carts, machinery and allied services.

About Golf Industry Association (GIA)

The Golf Industry Association is a promotional body formed by Golf Industry Groups in 2011 as a non-profit organization under the Indian Trusts Act 1882. The main objective of the Association is to provide a forum to co-ordinate all key sectors of Golf Industry to grow, develop and promote the game of Golf through their respective involvement. Assist to build and promote the Indian Golf industry by supporting the activities and aims of the Indian Golf Union, the Government of India Tourism Authority and other golf related groups. The Association is responsible to provide advice to the Government on industry wise issues without interfering individual members’ relationship with specific Government agencies. Our goal is to look after the interest of all members and to strengthen the individual position of each member.

Renowned clubmaker Sundeep Verma will be making his third Olympic Games appearance as a coach. Verma will be accompanying leading Indian professional Gaganjeet Bhullar during Paris 2024. 11-time Asian Tour champion Bhullar, who is making his Olympic debut, is part of a four-member golf team including Shubhankar Sharma, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar. Indian pro Ashbeer Saini will be caddying for Bhullar. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) cleared a 257-member Indian contingent that includes 117 athletes and 140 support staff and coaches. 

With over 25 years of experience in the golf industry and being the first Class ‘A’ certified golf coach-cum-clubmaker, Verma has worked with ace golfers like Jeev Milkha Singh, Anirban Lahiri, S.S.P. Chawrasia,  Jyoti  Randhawa,  Himmat Singh Rai, Shiv Kapur, Shubhankar Sharma, Siddikur Rahman to name a few.

He accompanied Chawrasia to Rio 2016 Olympics and Diksha to Tokyo 2020 Games and played an important part in helping them achieve a memorable performance. The men’s individual competition will be staged from August 1 to 4 at Le Golf National, the venue which hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup.

“It was quite natural to pick Sundeep as my coach. He has worked with me during my early professional days. I used to look at him for advice regarding my golf swing and customization of clubs as per my BMI and posture. He has already been to the venue of the event twice and his observations will come in handy for me. He also guided SSP and Diksha during the last two Olympic Games and understands the nuances of the game and how to handle pressure at a stage like this. I am sure with him on my side I will return with a remarkable performance in my maiden Olympic appearance,” Bhullar said.

Interestingly, the national sports federation, Indian Golf Union (IGU), and the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), which has the absolute right to approve/reject a Target Olympic Podium Scheme athlete’s proposal, had deferred Bhullar’s request for allowing Sundeep Verma to accompany him to Paris. 

Verma was the coach of the Indian amateur golf team that played the Eisenhower Trophy in 2022 at Le Golf National. He had previously visited the French venue for the 2018 Open de France along with Chawrasia, a four-time winner on the European Tour.

“I am happy to be accompanying Bhullar to Paris. I would love to pass on the learnings from Rio and Tokyo to him. I would say he is the most accomplished golfer of his generation. He is the first Indian to win a European Challenge Tour event in 2011 and has the highest number of Asian Tour titles as an Indian pro at 11. If the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) had not demoted the Asian Tour after their association with Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf Tour, Bhullar would have easily been inside the top-100 rankings. He possesses the right temperament and attacking mindset which is essential to perform well in big-ticket events like the Olympic Games. We will give it our best shot to return with a medal from Paris,” Sundeep Verma said.

Bhullar’s expenditure on airfare, boarding and lodging, registration fees for competing in the International Series Morocco were covered under the TOP Scheme. TOPS also approved his week-long training at the Olympic Games venue Le Golf National. The Kapurthala-born professional will be heading to Paris along with Sundeep Verma on July 28.

Shane Lowry moved into the lead of the 152nd British Open at seven under par after his second round at Royal Troon on Friday as a tame Tiger Woods limped to 14 over to miss the cut. Woods is not the only big name to struggle in the blustery conditions on Scotland’s west coast as Rory McIlroy will begin his second round at seven over and likely needing an under par round to make the weekend. Lowry had been usurped at the top of the leaderboard late on Thursday by unheralded Englishman Daniel Brown, who posted a six under 65.

However, the Irishman, who won his sole major at the British Open in 2019, recovered from a dramatic double bogey on the 11th that threatened to derail his charge to post a two under par round of 69.

Lowry leads by two shots from Brown, who showed little sign of nerves under the spotlight in his first major, with a steady 72 to sit at five under.

“To be honest, I was happy enough leaving there with a six. It wasn’t a disaster,” said Lowry on his travails at 11.

“To be leading this tournament after two days, it’s why you come here.”

Lowry was on the charge as he hit the turn in 34 thanks to birdies on the first, fifth and eighth.

The world number 33, though, was rocked as after a wayward tee shot at the 11th, he veered way left into thick bushes.

Remarkably Lowry’s ball was found, but deemed unplayable forcing him to play a drop and lose two shots.

He bounced back impressively picking up two shots in the final three holes.

World number one Scottie Scheffler has Lowry in his sights as the American moved into a share of fourth at two under despite dropping a shot at 18.

Scheffler has already won six times this year, including his second Masters title in April.

A monster putt at the 14th and a birdie on the par-five 16th took the American within striking range before a costly bogey on the last left him still five adrift of Lowry.

– Woods’ worst ever Open –

Woods’ tournament came to a sorry end after two rounds that will do little to quell doubts over whether he should continue to put a battered body through the strain of looking to add to his 15 major titles.

The 48-year-old hit back at suggestions earlier in the week from former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie that he should retire to preserve his status as one of the sport’s all-time legends.

Woods has stressed he feels physically better of late as he continues to fight back from the severe leg injuries he suffered in a car crash in 2021.

“I just need to keep progressing like that and then eventually start playing more competitively and start getting into kind of the competitive flow again,” he said.

But the three-time British Open champion cut a sorry figure as he trudged around the Troon links with his two-round score leaving him in 149th out of the 154 players still active in the tournament.

His score of 156 over two rounds matches his worst ever at a major with the 2015 US Open and is his poorest at a British Open by three shots.

Strong winds ensured low scoring remained difficult with the sixth, which had been the longest hole in British Open history on Thursday at 623 yards, reduced by 20 yards due to the conditions.

Attention later turns to McIlroy’s attempt to recover from a disastrous opening round of 78 with the projected cut sitting at four over.

Scottish Open champion Bob MacIntyre’s dreams of a first major on home soil unravelled as he dropped eight shots in his first four holes to drop to nine over.

Representational Image.© X (formerly Twitter)

Shubhankar Sharma will be the only Indian passport holder teeing off at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon, Scotland on Thursday even as several Indian-origin players, including Akshay Bhatia, would aim to hold aloft the Claret Jug at the oldest Major over the weekend. Last year Sharma finished tied-eighth at Royal Liverpool for the best-ever finish by an Indian at the British Open. Apart from Sharma, the other Indian touch at Liverpool was Sahith Theegala, who missed the cut. However, this time around, there is a strong Indian flavour in the field, including Theegala, one of the most exciting young stars, Bhatia, the left-hander who defied the popular norm of playing college before turning pro, and Aaron Rai, whose habit of wearing gloves on both hands, turns head in the golfing world.

The trio of Theegala, Bhatia and Rai, all have Indian blood in them, though the first two represent the United States and the third is now an Englishman.

Theegala’s parents grew up in Hyderabad, before making US their home, where their son became a fine golfing prospect as he swept all prestigious awards at the collegiate level. Now, he is world No. 11 and on the doorsteps of a new milestone of being the top-10 player in the world.

Bhatia chose a different path. Bypassing college golf after a chat with Phil Mickelson, the golfer, whose parents came from North India, went to mini Tour events, before winning on the Korn Ferry and finally making his way into the main PGA Tour.

Bhatia has now won twice on the PGA Tour and Mickelson speaks glowingly about this left-hander who has often said that his idol is ‘Lefty’ the man who has six Majors and now plays on the Liv Golf League.

Bhatia, who earned his way into the Masters by winning a week before the first Major of the year, finished T-35 at Augusta, but missed the cut at PGA. He was then T-16 at the US Open.

He has been a consistent performer this year. He has one win, two other top-10s and seven more finishes in top-20 out of a total of 20 starts. After starting the year in 110th place in the world, he is now 26th and climbing.

And finally, Rai. The Wolverhampton lad’s parents grew up in Kenya and their parents were born in India. Rai speaks fondly of his visit to India for the 2018 Hero Indian Open where he finished tied-ninth.

Rai has been in the top-7 in his last three starts on the PGA Tour even as he searches for his first win. Overall, he has five finishes in top-7 and three other top-20 finishes in 19 starts in 2024, and is now at a career-best 45th place in world rankings.

A good number of Indian golf fans will keep an eye not only on Sharma, but also on Indian-Americans Theegala and Bhatia, and Rai, the Brit with an Indian heritage.

India’s number one male golfer Shubhankar Sharma and compatriot Gaganjeet Bhullar have qualified for the Paris Olympic Games and will be teeing off for the country at the prestigious Golf National course in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, in the French capital in August. Shubhankar’s berth in Paris was confirmed after the International Golf Federation (IGF) revealed its Olympic qualification list of 60 men and women golfers for the Olympic Golf tournament, scheduled between August 1-4, 2024. Shubhankar, whose Official World Golf Ranking is 222, qualified with an Olympic rank of 48 paving the way for a Games debut for the Chandigarh lad.

He will be joined by Gaganjeet Bhullar who qualified with an Olympic rank of 54 and who will also be making his Olympic debut. Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar will be representing India in the women’s tournament.

Shubhankar, the 27-year-old Indian, who recently signed as Brand Ambassador of Roundglass Sports, is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) and has eight career titles to his name. He will be seen in action next at the KLM Open in Amsterdam and the Italian Open this month, which are both part of the DP World Tour.

Sharing his thoughts on the moment, Shubhankar Sharma said, “It’s a privilege and honour to represent India at the Olympics. It’s a dream come true obviously. I have been preparing for this day for a while now, and am planning my schedule for the European Tour, accordingly. We have a very good and experienced team of Gaganjeet, Aditi, Diksha and myself.

“We have depth and experience behind us. All are playing solid golf at the moment, on our respective tours too, and that’s a good sign. If Olympic week turns our way, any medal is possible for both Men and Women’s Teams. Personally speaking, my game is trending in the right direction and I am keyed up to deliver,” he said.

Shubhankar is a prodigal talent who turned pro in 2013 at the age of 16. He is currently the highest-ranked Indian in men’s professional golf globally and was the No.1 player in Asia in 2018. Shubhankar has had a status on the European and Asian Tours since 2018.

Shubhankar has made multiple appearances in all the Golf Majors and recorded the best-ever finish by an Indian at The Open, the oldest golf championship in the world. At the 151st Open in Liverpool last year, he finished tied for eighth position. In addition, his two European Tour titles have been the Joburg Open and the Maybank Championships. His six other titles have been in India’s top pro tour, the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

Shubhankar is also a recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2018, the second highest honour for sports personalities in the country. He was also awarded the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 2018 and is a winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit in the same year.