Indian Masters

The Indian Masters was a professional golf tournament on the European and Asian Tours, that was played in February 2008. The tournament was introduced as part of the continuing globalisation of the European Tour, making India the 37th territory to stage a European Tour event, and increasing to twelve the number of tournaments played in Asia as of the 2008 season.[1]

Indian Masters
Tournament information
LocationDelhi, India
Established2008
Course(s)Delhi Golf Club
Par72
Length7,014 yards
Tour(s)European Tour
Asian Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$2,500,000
Month playedFebruary
Final year2008
Tournament record score
Aggregate279 Shiv Chowrasia (2008)
To par−9 Shiv Chowrasia (2008)
Final champion
Shiv Chowrasia

The tournament was initially only sanctioned by the European Tour and the Indian Golf Union, the announcement of which drew sharp criticism from both Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han[2] and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI),[3][4] with both organisations claiming that the European Tour had breached International Federation of PGA Tours protocols by not making advance arrangements with them for co-sanctioning of an event to be staged in their region. The Indian Golf Union issued a statement a few days after the tournament was announced stating that the European Tour had approached it, and was willing to offer 20 invitations to Indian domestic players through the PGTI. The dispute was eventually settled, and the Asian Tour agreed terms to co-sanction the tournament in advance of its 2008 debut.[5] The 2008 prize fund was US$2.5 million, which is the largest ever offered at a golf tournament in India, and also one of the largest in Asia, but slightly below the overall average on the European Tour. The promoters are Golf in Dubai, who are also responsible for the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour and the Dubai Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour.

Early in December 2008, organisers announced that due to financial problems with sponsors stemming from the global economic situation, and security concerns following the attacks in Mumbai, the 2009 event would be cancelled.[6]

The long-established Indian Open is also an Asian Tour event, and beginning in 2015 will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

Winners
YearVenueWinnerCountryScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-up
2008Delhi Golf ClubShiv Chowrasia India279−92 strokes Damien McGrane

See also
  • Avantha Masters, another co-sanctioned event in India, played from 2010 to 2013, considered a continuation of the Indian Masters by the European Tour but not by the Asian Tour

References
  1. "'golf in DUBAI' brings The European Tour to India". European Tour. 11 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
  2. "Asian Tour angry at Euro rivals' plans". The Age. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
  3. "Indian golfers' body stunned by European Tour's intrusion". International Herald Tribune. 12 June 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
  4. "Indian Pro Tour joins Europe-Asia row with boycott threat". golftoday.co.uk. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
  5. "Asian Tour co-sanctions Indian Masters". Calcutta Telegraph. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
  6. "Golf-Financial crisis claims next year's Indian Masters". Reuters. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
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