New Delhi: Australian golf legend Greg Norman believes India is a “sleeping giant” within the sport whose potential could be unlocked with extra worldwide tournaments coming to its shores. The 69-year-old, talking on the sidelines of the Asian Tour’s Worldwide Sequence at Gurugram’s DLF Golf and Nation Membership that was gained by Ollie Schniederjans (US) on Sunday, additionally batted for LIV Tour’s foray into India.
Greg Norman. (AP)
“I do believe India is a sleeping giant in golf. If you just look at the infancy of golf in India, it’s really just the beginning. When you look at the opportunities for the next 25 years — essentially a generation — India is right in the middle of it. If you go back a decade or 15 years and look at the impact of Indian women golfers on the LPGA, their success has resonated across the country,” stated Norman, whose tenure as CEO of the breakaway LIV Tour ended just lately.
“The trends and the data tell us why India, and Asia as a whole, will continue to develop and grow. For a long time, the Asian Tour wasn’t getting the recognition it deserved because of the dominance of the European and American tours. There’s nothing wrong with that, but we can’t forget other regions like South Africa, Australia, and the entire APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation),” he added.
The $2million Worldwide Sequence India was the primary of 10 such occasions sanctioned by the Asian Tour that supply a pathway to the LIV Golf League. The season-ending rankings champion of the Worldwide Sequence secures a spot on the LIV roster for the following season, which Schniederjans and fellow American comeback man Chase Koepka stated was their goal.
Whereas talks are on to make the occasion an annual function, Norman backed the thought of LIV making its much-anticipated debut in India quickly.
“The International Series is an important pathway to LIV. Through the Asian Tour, we’re creating opportunities for young golfers in India and beyond. If we can create stepping stones for success, it helps grow the sport worldwide,” the two-time British Open winner stated.
“I don’t see LIV stopping anytime soon. It will become the true global golf platform, present on every continent.”
Whereas Anirban Lahiri, India’s lone participant in LIV, got here near profitable on the tour final 12 months, Indian golf, regardless of boasting of gifted gamers, has not had a winner at worldwide stage since Shubhankar Sharma gained the Maybank Championship, a European Tour occasion, in February, 2018.
Norman stated LIV can play a vital function in serving to Indian golf that appears to be stagnating.
“I love LIV to come to India because it’s significant. Everything takes baby steps. And obviously, the international place to enter the league is important to do that,” he stated.
“We saw the role Anirban has played in bringing International Series to India. We saw how young Kartik Singh took the opportunity and made the cut as an amateur.” Kartik, 15, made a giant impression by making the reduce on the Worldwide Sequence occasion.
“LIV has created a new dynamic for golf because it gave an opportunity in the competitive golfing world for a new business model. Different formats have come out and have enticed millions into the game of golf.”