Team News Riveting
Raipur, January 16
The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister of Chhattisgarh Arun Sao today jointly announced the staging of the second edition of the Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship.
The tournament will be PGTI’s season-opener for 2026 as it is scheduled to be played from February 3 – 6 at the pristine Fairway Golf & Lake Resort in Naya Raipur.
The prize purse for the event, which stood at INR 1 crore in the inaugural edition last year, has been raised to INR 1.5 crore for the second edition this year. India’s leading professionals as well as a number of professionals from overseas are expected to participate in the event. The tournament week will begin with the Pro-Am event on February 1.
Sao said, “After the grand success of the inaugural edition of the Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship last year, the staging of the second edition of the event reflects our government’s commitment to promoting the sport of golf and positioning Chhattisgarh as an emerging hub for national sporting events. Such tournaments not only encourage sporting talent but also contribute to tourism, youth engagement, and the overall development of the state. Hosting such prestigious events showcases Chhattisgarh’s world-class facilities, organizational capability, and growing sports culture.”
Kapil Dev, President, PGTI, said, “The successful first edition of the Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship demonstrated the state’s growing interest in professional golf, and we are delighted to return for the second edition thanks to the continued support of the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sports, Shri Arun Sao Ji, the Government of Chhattisgarh and all local stakeholders. Such tournaments play a vital role in providing competitive opportunities for our professionals while also contributing to the growth of the sport in emerging golfing destinations like Chhattisgarh. We look forward to another highly competitive event that will give our players a strong platform to perform and inspire the next generation of golfers in the region.”
Amandeep Johl, CEO, PGTI, said, “After PGTI’s highly successful first foray into Chhattisgarh last year, the Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship has firmly established itself as an important stop on the PGTI calendar. The second edition reinforces our commitment to growing the game of golf across the country, taking it beyond traditional centres into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, in alignment with the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat.
“Golf resonates strongly with a nation aspiring towards developed-country status. Guided by the clear strategic direction of the PGTI Board, led by President Kapil Dev and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, the Tour continues to expand professional golf into newer regions while creating greater playing opportunities for Indian professionals.
“We are grateful to the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sports, Shri Arun Sao Ji, the Government of Chhattisgarh and all local stakeholders for their support in staging the second edition of the Chhattisgarh Open Golf Championship, featuring a 50% increase in prize money to INR 1.5 crore, with the winner earning INR 22.5 lakhs, marking an ideal start to the 2026 PGTI season.”
The tournament will have a field of 126 professionals. The event will be played in the stroke-play format consisting of four rounds of 18 holes each. The top 50 players and ties will make the cut after two rounds.
The Fairway Golf & Lake Resort, Naya Raipur, is located in the newly planned capital city of Chhattisgarh, namely “Nava Raipur,” which was planned as an integrated community with leisure and recreation. The golf course is located on the bank of a 450-acre Jhanjh lake and beautifully surrounded by almost a 500-acre forest. The par for the course is 69.
It is the first 18-hole golf course to be developed in the central part of India. Designed by “Pacific Coast Design” from Australia and project management by SGDC, Pacific Coast Design master-planned and detailed-designed a new residential/resort 18-hole golf project in Raipur. The course will be a fine example of how challenging yet fun 6,000 yards of golf can be. With water, bunkers, and risk/reward opportunities, the course can prove to be a true test of skills.
About Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI):
The Professional Golf Tour of India serves as the official governing and sanctioning body for men’s professional golf in India and is a recognized member of the ‘International Golf Federation’ and the ‘International Federation of PGA Tours’. PGTI also enjoys strategic alliances with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour (European Tour). PGTI events offer ‘Official World Golf Ranking’ (OWGR) points. The Tour is led by its President, Padma Bhushan Shri. Kapil Dev, an iconic sporting legend who continues to inspire athletes and audiences nationwide.
