India’s golf circuit is richer than ever—but as prize money soars at home, Indian golfers remain largely absent from the world’s biggest leaderboards.
India’s professional golf circuit has never been financially stronger. In 2025, the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) offered a record ₹35 crore in prize money across 36 tournaments, marking a significant milestone for the domestic game. Sponsorship interest has grown, the tour calendar has expanded, and financial stability has improved for Indian professionals. Yet, despite this progress, Indian golfers continue to struggle to establish a sustained presence on the world’s most competitive tours.
The contrast between domestic prosperity and limited global success has become increasingly difficult to ignore. While Indian players are winning regularly at home, representation on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour remains sparse. Arjun Atwal, the only Indian golfer to have won on the PGA Tour, believes the issue runs deeper than funding or facilities.
Now competing primarily on the senior circuit, Atwal has closely followed the evolution of Indian golf. He acknowledges that the current generation is fitter, more technically refined, and better supported than ever before. However, he also sees a potential downside to the comfort provided by a strong domestic ecosystem.
From Survival to Stability
Atwal, along with Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa, emerged during a period when Indian golfers had limited opportunities at home. Prize money was modest, sponsorship was scarce, and international competition was a necessity rather than an ambition. Success depended on adapting quickly to unfamiliar courses, travel schedules, and intense competitive environments.
Today’s landscape is very different. The PGTI offers financial security and consistent playing opportunities, allowing professionals to build viable careers without leaving India. The tour’s strategic partnership with the DP World Tour has opened pathways to international events, but it has also highlighted the gap between domestic success and global competitiveness.
Players such as Yuvraj Sandhu, who dominated the 2025 domestic season with multiple victories, now face the challenge of proving that home-grown success can translate to stronger performances overseas.
The Mental Gap
According to Atwal, technical ability is no longer the primary concern. Modern Indian golfers have the power and physical conditioning required for international competition. The real challenge, he argues, lies in mental readiness.
International tours demand consistency under pressure, limited recovery time between events, and the ability to contend week after week against deeper fields. For many Indian players, the adjustment has been difficult.
The numbers reflect this struggle. It has been 16 years since an Indian last won on the PGA Tour. On the DP World Tour, the most recent Indian victory came in 2018, when Shubhankar Sharma won in Kuala Lumpur. Since then, Indian golfers have found it challenging to convert opportunities into podium finishes.
Atwal believes that the goal for many players remains limited to making cuts or maintaining rankings rather than competing for titles. Financial stability at home, while beneficial, may reduce the urgency required to succeed at the highest level.
New Pathways and Structural Change
As Indian golf enters 2026, new initiatives are being explored to address this stagnation. The upcoming launch of “72 The League,” a franchise-based tournament model scheduled across courses in the Delhi-NCR region, aims to introduce greater commercial interest and competitive intensity. Supporters believe the league format could help elevate visibility and attract corporate backing similar to other professional sports.
At the developmental level, Atwal’s plans to establish golf academies in India reflect a shift toward long-term preparation. These academies are expected to focus not only on technique but also on mental resilience, decision-making under pressure, and adaptation to international playing conditions.
Final Take
Indian golf has reached a point where financial growth alone is no longer enough. The challenge now is converting domestic stability into global relevance. Infrastructure, talent, and funding are improving, but sustained international success remains elusive.
As the next season unfolds, the question facing Indian golf is clear: can the current generation break the cycle and compete consistently on the world stage, or will domestic prosperity continue to outpace global achievement? The answer will define the direction of Indian golf in the years ahead.
