New Delhi: In a first of its kind initiative, a select group of top-30 golfers would vie for the Champions of the Champions title at the Shubhkamna Championship at the Noida Golf Course from December 21-23.
The tournament has been conceptualised by twice Asian Order of Merit Winner Jeev Milkha Singh, a first for any top level sportsperson in India.
The format of the tournament is also unique with the players vying for honors in a 54-hole stroke play contest and the Rs 60 lacs prize money distribution would be on the lines of the USPGA Tour’s Finale Tour championship, which also features top-30 players on the US Tour each year.
The tournament will see in action 10 International tour members and 20 winners of 2012 PGTI tournaments.
"We had this idea a year ago. We wanted to do something for golf and so we thought of coming up with an event which can promote the game. The game has given me so much and it was time to give back," Jeev told reporters here on Friday.
"Even if you look internationally we gave seen so many great players such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer coming up with invitational tournaments. So we decided to start something in India and thanks to the sponsors, we finalized everything a month ago. It is the first time something like this is happening and it is dream come true for me," he added.
Jeev has signed a deal with Shubhkamna for three years and is confident that this tournament will be an annual affair.
The list of participants in the tournament include, Jeev himself, the first Indian to win on the PGA tour Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa, Daniel Chopra, young prodigy Anirban Lahiri, Asian Games gold medallist Shiv Kapoor, Bangaldesh’s top golfer Siddikur Rehman and the inform Gaganjeet Bhullar among others.
In case the number of winners, from the 2012 PGTI tournaments, does not come up to 20, then the player slated next on the PGTI Order of Merit is eligible to participate in the tournament.
The tournament will begin with a Pro-Am also on the 21st and will be followed by the main event, which will see the winner take home a prize purse of Rs 10.8 lacs.
By Indian Sports News Network