India's Golf Events Thrive, But Where Are the World-Class Players?

In 2025, India hosted three significant golf tournaments, attracting top global stars. However, the absence of a homegrown golfer competing at the top level raises concerns about the state of Indian golf.

High-Profile Tournaments, Mediocre Results

The year 2025 marked a high point for Indian golf with the LIV Golf International Series, DP World India Championships, and Hero India Open. Yet, none of these events saw an Indian winner, a recurring trend in major tournaments.

A Golden Era Gone

The glory days of Indian golf, marked by players like Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, and Jyoti Randhawa, seem distant. The current crop of players, promising as they may be, have yet to match their predecessors' achievements.

The European Tour Challenge

Indian pros have struggled to make an impact on the European Tour. Shubhankar Sharma, a consistent presence on the tour, had a dismal 2025, missing 22 cuts in 29 tournaments. Yuvraj Sandhu, who qualified for the European Tour in 2026, acknowledges the challenges but expresses confidence in his abilities.

Asian Tour Concerns

The Asian Tour, which returned to India in 2025, has only four Indians with full cards for 2026. This is a worrying trend, as it was common to have 15-16 Indian players on the Asian Tour a few years ago.

The Future of Indian Golf

PGTI, the professional golf tour of India, aims to address these issues by fostering a robust feeder system, increasing the number of events, and securing more invitations for Indian players on European tours. However, the lack of corporate support for professional golfers remains a challenge.

As we look forward to 2026, the question remains: When will we see an Indian golfer competing at the highest level consistently? The answer lies in nurturing talent, providing opportunities, and creating an ecosystem that supports Indian golfers.