Asian Tour’s Comeback Sparks Uncertainty for Indian Golf

When the Asian Tour announced its renewed partnership with the PGA and European Tours earlier this year, the golfing world gave a collective sigh of relief. After a year‑long pause that left many players scrambling for ranking points, the tour is finally back on the schedule, sharing banners with the sport’s biggest names.

That said, as the ink dries on new agreements, there’s a lingering question mark hovering over India. The sub‑continent, which has been a cornerstone for the Asian Tour’s growth, is now looking at a future that feels anything but certain.

It all began with the Asian Tour’s decision to re‑align itself with its western counterparts. The move, announced in February, was meant to restore co‑sanctioned events that had been missing from the calendar for more than a year. Players from Asia, Europe and the United States could once again compete for world‑ranking points, bigger prize money and the kind of exposure that only a joint venture can deliver.

For many of the Tour’s regulars, the news was music to their ears. “It’s like the lights are back on,” said Malaysian golfer Benjamín Lee, who has been fighting to keep his world ranking afloat. “We were left in the dark for too long, and now we have a clear path forward.”

But while the partnership itself looks promising, the details are still being hammered out, and that’s where India’s concerns arise. Historically, India has hosted several marquee events – the Indian Open, the Hero Indian Open, and a handful of smaller tournaments that have drawn local crowds and international stars alike. Those events not only offered a platform for home‑grown talent but also pumped much‑needed revenue into the country’s golf ecosystem.

Now, with the tour’s schedule being re‑written, there’s no guarantee that any of those Indian stops will make the cut. Sources close to the Asian Tour’s scheduling committee say that venue selection will be based on a mix of commercial viability, player logistics and, importantly, the ability to meet the PGA and European Tours’ standards for course infrastructure and broadcasting.

“It’s not that we don’t want India,” a senior official, who asked to remain unnamed, told us. “It’s just that we have to balance a lot of factors – sponsorship strength, media rights, travel routes for players. If those pieces don’t fit, we have to look elsewhere.”

Indian golf insiders are understandably nervous. The Hero Indian Open, for example, has been a stepping‑stone for players like Anirban Lahiri and Shivam Kumar, providing them with a rare chance to test themselves against a world‑class field on home soil. Losing that exposure could set back the development pipeline for years.

“I’ve seen a few junior guys say ‘maybe I’ll quit’ because there’s no chance to play a big tournament in front of a home crowd,” says former Indian Open champion Gaganjeet Bhojwani. “It’s more than just money – it’s about inspiration.”

On the sponsorship front, Indian companies have been eager to align themselves with global golf’s glamour. Hero MotoCorp, for instance, has poured millions into the Indian Open over the past decade. Should the tournament be dropped, those brands will need to find new avenues – a shift that could ripple through the entire sport’s funding model in the country.

Meanwhile, the Asian Tour is trying to keep the door open. A spokesperson hinted that a “new format” could emerge, possibly involving a rotational hosting model where India might see a tournament every other year, or a joint event with a neighboring nation. The idea is still in embryonic form, but it’s being floated as a compromise to keep Indian fans engaged.

For now, players are left with a mixed bag of emotions. Some, like Thailand’s Thongchai Mongkol, are already planning travel itineraries for the upcoming co‑sanctioned events in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Others are holding onto a cautious optimism that a spot for India will materialize, perhaps later in the season.

What’s clear is that the Asian Tour’s return is a double‑edged sword. On one side, it restores a much‑needed pathway to world rankings and larger purses. On the other, it forces a hard look at where Indian golf fits into a rapidly evolving global calendar.

Until a concrete decision lands on the table, the Indian golf community will continue to watch, hope, and perhaps, prepare for a new kind of partnership – one that might look different from the past, but could still keep the ball rolling on the sub‑continent’s greens.