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Arjun Atwal for Indian Masters

Principal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The inaugural European PGA Tour event in India, the Emaar-MGF Indian Masters, has apparently developed cold feet as regards to an “expected rush” at the Delhi Golf Club to watch some of the top golfing pros during the second week of February.

Ticketed entry for the $2.5 million Indian Masters is the solution that the Golf in Dubai, the organisers of the event, have come up with. The tournament will be held here from February 7 to 10 with the pro-am on February 6 preceded by two days of official practice. Golf enthusiasts will have to pay Rs. 1,875 for a daily ticket or Rs. 7,500 for a seven-day pass.

In the past, when entry for bigger tournaments is kept open, the response to golf has been lukewarm, apart from the club members and their families who throng on the weekends.

“But this is an exclusive tournament with some of the top pros including Ernie Els participating and we expect a lot of audience to come in and watch,” Mohamed Juma Buamaim, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Golf in Dubai, said.

The organisers on Thursday also announced that the Indian pro Arjun Atwal, who has been struggling to keep afloat on the second tier of the US PGA, will be participating in the Indian Masters.

Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Gaurav Ghei are the other top Indians in the fray in the field of 110 golfers.

The issue of spot sharing has been sorted out with the European Tour players taking 50 per cent and remaining for the Asian Tour. However, of the 55 spots for Asia, 25 will go to the Indian pros.

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