Jeev Invitational dropped for second year straight, Trident Open to debut at Golf Club

For the second consecutive year, Chandigarh Golf Club (CGC) will not host the

Rs 1.5 crore Indian Major, Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational, in what would have been its eighth edition.

Last year, the event supported by TAKE Sports was dropped for the first time, following the exit of the main sponsor. The event was expected to be played this year. However, the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) announced the calendar and the event did not find a mention on it.

Instead, the club will now host the inaugural Trident Open Golf Championship as another flagship tournament from November 11 to 14 with a Rs 1-crore prize purse. “There was some problem regarding sponsors last year, and the same reasons exist even this time,” said Amandeep Johl, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PGTI.

The Jeev Invitational had started off in 2018, as the annual event of the club featuring top golfers from the nation— including the participation of Jeev Milkha Singh— along with local professionals. Jeev, a winner of 20 international titles and a recipient of Padma Shri, had recently played in the Senior Open at Sunningdale Old Course in Ascot, England.

“It’s quite disheartening to see the event vanishing after six editions from Jeev’s home turf (CGC). The event was a platform to watch foreign golfers in action here, and also an opportunity for the local professionals to get boosted amid the home crowd,” said one of the local golfers.

Meanwhile, the PGTI announced the second half with Coal India Open, an Rs 1 crore event from August 5 to 8 at the Kensville Golf & Country Club in Ahmedabad, followed by two new venues — Clover Greens Resort and Golf Club, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu and Zion Hills Golf County, Kolar, Karnataka. The Clover Greens Resort and Golf Club will host the Rs 1 crore PGTI Players Championship from August 19 to 22, while the Zion Hills Golf County will host the inaugural Kolar Open from August 26 to 29.

It will be followed by the Trident Open at Chandigarh Golf Club. “The inaugural event will be played in collaboration with the PGTI and under the leadership of Kapil Dev. The Club, known as the ‘Nursery of Indian Golf’, has a rich legacy of shaping champions who bring glory to the nation,” said Rajinder Gupta, Chairman Emeritus, Trident Group.

The number of events in the second half has increased from 12 to 15 and will offer Rs 3.15 crore in prize money.