By IANS
Dubai : The long drawn impasse regarding the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters was finally sorted out officially with Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice-chairman and CEO of ‘golf in DUBAI’, and Gautam Thapar, president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), working out an arrangement that is beneficial to all sides.
In a joint press conference, PGTI and ‘golf in DUBAI’ – the promoters and organisers of the $ 2.5 million event announced Sunday that a minimum of 25 spots will be allocated for Indian players in the 120 strong field.
The Indian Masters is the first-ever European Tour event to be played in India gets under way at the Delhi Golf Club from Feb 7 to 10.
The field will be include eight sponsors’ spots and two for amateurs. The remaining 110 places will divided equally between the European Tour and Asian Tour players — that is 55 players for each tour. The 55 Asian Tour players will include a minimum of 25 Indian players as the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters is tri-sanctioned by the Asian, European Tours and PGTI.
“It (the EMAAR-MGF Indian Masters) is the birth of what we are both optimistic will become an Indian tradition,” stated Mohamed Juma Buamaim on the sidelines of the Dubai Ladies Masters.
“Both PGTI and ‘golf in DUBAI’ have objectives that are parallel to each other. Therefore, it was only a matter of time before we collaborated in a positive way and moved forward collectively,” said Thapar. “We are impressed with the commitment that ‘golf in DUBAI’ has made to the Indian Golf Union, and admire the way they promote the game through Shaikh Maktoum Foundation.”
About the star attractions of the tournament, Buamaim said: “Ernie Els will be joined by most of the golf in DUBAI ambassadors which include Mark O’Meara, Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn, Jeev Milkha Singh, Colin Montgomerie and Ross Bain. We will confirm the players in the coming weeks.”
When asked is there any possibility of Tiger Woods featuring in the event in the near future since the world number enjoys a good relationship with ‘golf in DUBAI’ and is a regular to Dubai, Buamaim said: “Well, we can’t say anything at this moment. May be we will discuss that possibility when the European Tour announces the 2009 schedule.”
Talking about PGTI, Thapar said the tour will comprise 24 events in 2008, boasting a prize fund of a couple of million dollars. “The membership of the PGTI, he said, has crossed the 300 mark and another 150 applications are pending,” he said.