DIGBOI, Assam: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Assam Oil Division) Digboi is hosting the 20th edition of the IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf tournament.
This premier golf tournament is being held under the aegis of the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India (TATA Steel PGTI) from Wednesday, running through to 24th November, at the pristine Digboi Golf Links.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited has announced a prize purse of Rs 6 million for this year’s edition which is an increase of Rs 1.5 million over last year. This is the fourth year in succession that the prize money has been raised. The Pro-Am event will be held on 24th November.
The tournament features its biggest field ever with a total of 121 professionals participating. The top 50 players and ties will make the cut after round two.
PGTI became part of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system from the start of the 2019 season. All PGTI events now offer world ranking points. Therefore, the IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf will be carrying world ranking points for the first time.
The field features top professionals such as defending and three-time champion Shamim Khan, six-time champion Mukesh Kumar, three-time champion Shankar Das as well as former winners Harendra Gupta, Sanjay Kumar and Australia’s Kunal Bhasin.
Besides Australian Kunal Bhasin, the 2013 champion, the foreign challenge would be led by Sri Lankans Anura Rohana, N Thangaraja and Mithun Perera and Bangladesh’s Md Zamal Hossain Mollah.
Sandeep S John, executive director IOCL (AOD) Digboi Refinery, remarked about IndianOil’s commitment to promotion of sports and sportsmen. John said: “It is heartening to note from a humble beginning in 1999, the 20th edition of IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf has emerged as a prestigious national golf tournament. It is a matter of pride for IndianOil that under the banner of IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf tournament; the country has witnessed the emergence of several talented players hailing from diverse economic and regional backgrounds.”
Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, said: “Indian Oil Corporation has reaffirmed its commitment to Indian professional golf by raising the prize purse of the IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf for the fourth year in succession. The IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf, now into its 20th edition, has played a key role in popularizing golf in the North-Eastern region of the country over the past two decades. We thank the Indian Oil Corporation for being a pillar of support to Indian professional golf over the years and for raising the prize purse once again this year. PGTI members look forward to the challenges that lie in store for them at the daunting Digboi Golf Links.”
The venue, the picturesque Digboi Golf Links, is a golfer’s delight. The course is a one of its kind in terms of ambience as it is situated among the lush tea estates and thick forest of eastern Assam. The historic Digboi Golf Links is bordered by the Dehing forest reserve on three sides and the magnificent Patkai range of mountains on the fourth. This par-72 course with a yardage of 6329 could also be termed as the best in the north-eastern part of the country due to its magnificent layout.
