Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI (left) and Mr. Sanjiv Paul, Vice President (Safety, Health & Sustainability), TATA Steel (right) signed the partnership renewal agreement at the Tollygunge Club in Kolkata
In a massive boost for pro golf in India, Tata Steel has announced it will continue as the umbrella partner of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) for three more years starting from the 2022 season. The sponsorship value is believed to be higher than it was for the previous three years. The steelmaker, which is known for its commitment to building sports in India, also said it will be doubling the prize money for the season-ending Tata Steel Tour Championship from Rs 1.5 crores to Rs 3 crores from this year, making it by far the richest domestic pro event in Indian golf history. Tata Steel came onboard as Tour sponsor of PGTI in 2019 when the tour was renamed Tata Steel PGTI. .
Sanjiv Paul, Vice President, Tata Steel, said: “Sports is a way of life at Tata Steel and we have always been at the forefront of developing and nurturing sporting talent in the country. We look forward to continuing our valued collaboration with PGTI to pursue our common goal of promoting Indian talent to compete at the highest level of golf. We will continue to strive for excellence in sports and leverage sports to empower the community.”
Uttam Singh Mundy, the CEO of PGTI, expressed his delight at the extension of the partnership. “This development is a shot in the arm for PGTI as our continued association with Tata Steel will help Indian professional golf scale new heights in the coming years,” he said.
Tata Steel’s century-old association with sports dates back to Sir Dorabji Tata financing four athletes and two wrestlers for the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. The Company has created an array of infrastructure for every sports discipline, including a 9-hole golf course (Beldih) and an 18-hole golf course (Golmuri) in Jamshedpur, which have played host to several tournaments.
The affiliation of PGTI with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system allows more Indian players to make an impact on the world stage, as well as for the world to recognise the calibre of talent that exists in India. Since becoming a part of the Official World Golf Ranking system in 2019 and its association with Tata Steel, PGTI has become a de facto springboard for talented Indian golfers to join the bigger international tours.
Credits:-
Photo – PGTI