PGAI offers olive branch, says PGTI can take part in their tour

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) PGAI today offered an olive branch to rival PGTI, saying that all the players who had joined the newly-formed body can take part in their Amby Valley Tour.

A decision in this regard was taken today by the newly formed Board of Professional Golfers' Association of India (PGAI) following an EGM held at the PGAI office here.

Over 75 players having voting rights elected a new body with the proceedings being overseen by Indian Golf Union's Senior Council Member Manjit Singh and former Asian Games gold medalist Amit Luthra.

Members from the A-1 category including top Indian money winners Mukesh Kumar -- who was also made head of Tour Programme Committee, Vijay Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Feroz Ali and Gast Ram were given the vote of confidence in the newly constituted six-member board.

However, Tiger Sports Marketing (TSM), which was at the centre of controversy leading to the formation of PGTI, was also reinstated as the marketing arm of PGAI for the next three years.

The Amby Valley tour season was also decided to be staged from January to December as is done throughout the other Tours in the world.

The minimum prize purse of the Indian PGA Tour was also agreed to be raised to Rs 15 lakh, an increase of Rs 5 lakh per event and a total purse of Rs 3 crore across a 12-month period starting January next year was guaranteed by TSM with an escalation of 15 per cent.

''We do not want the players to suffer. Hence we will design a calendar such that even players from PGTI can take part,'' Mukesh Kumar said.

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