Global Golf Post - February 1, 2010

• TRADITIONAL/CLASSIC LINES.
• MAINTAIN BALL SPEED ACROSS CLUBFACE.
• OPTIMUM WORKABILITY — VARIABLE FACE
  AND LIE ANGLES.

• CLUB TECHNOLOGY CONCEALED AT ADDRESS.
• COMPRESSION CHANNEL CONSTRUCTION INCREASES
  SWEET-SPOT SIZE AND YARDAGE.
• HEAD SHAPES AND 32-POSITION STR8-FIT TOUR
  CONNECTION BUILT FOR FINE-TUNED CONTROL.

Order of Merit in 2006 became the first Indian golfer to participate in The Masters in 2007.

much mirth over China hosting more European Tour events than Scotland. They had a few Asian Tour events in addition. The China Tour was set up in 2005 with four 54-hole $100,000 events. There are currently no events set for 2010. But China is yet to see quality golfers in good numbers. Apart from Liang Wen-Chong, the Asian Tour’s top player in 2007, and Zhang Lianwei, the only other Chinese golfer in the top 150 on the Asian Tour is 24-year-old Wu Ashun.

In the midst of all these Asian golfing crises, Indian golf has seen the most significant growth graph in recent years. It is witnessing the arrival of new designer courses and global brands such as Callaway, which plans to set up a huge network in India. Plus, the domestic tour itself has taken off very well. India also will have a “feeder” tour in 2010.

The PGA Tour of India, set up a little more than 10 years ago, has grown to a series of almost 25-30 events a year with a total purse close to $2 million, and that is in addition to the Asian and European tour events, which bring in another $4 million to $5 million.

India has been the Asian Tour’s strength. Setting aside Japan and Korea, the traditional strongholds in Asian golf, India and Thailand have been most dominant. Since 2001, Indians (Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal) and Thais (Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant) have taken the Order of Merit four times, with China’s Liang Wen-Chong earning it once. The Asian Tour has 12-15 Indians as regulars and there are at least 10 others in the waiting.

Paucity of public courses for beginners may be a hindrance in growth, but the Olympic inclusion could galvanize the government to promote the sport. In 2008, India hosted four events — two co-sanctioned – but in 2009, the slowdown swallowed one (Indian Masters) and another ( Johnnie Walker) shifted out. But in 2010, there is the Avantha Masters, and there is promise of at least one or two more Asian Tour events. l