Future bright for Indian golf: Kapil

Kuala Lumpur: Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, who embraced golf after retirement, says India is on the cusp of a golfing revolution that could change the face of the professional game in Asia.

As the subcontinent produces more champions and hosts new events, India will become the new force in the region, said Kapil in a statement.

New tournaments like the May 11-14 Amby Valley Asian Masters will be the launch pad for many of India's rising stars and demonstrate that corporate India is capable of creating new events, said Kapil, who is an Asian Tour board member.

"Indian golfers are already making headlines over the past three to five years and events such as the Amby Valley Asian Masters are indeed a positive step forward for Indian golf," he said.

"Events like this serve as a platform as you don't know you have the talent unless you try, and once people try, only then will they know that they are good enough."

India hosts two Tour events, the Amby Valley and the Indian Open.

India's Shiv Kapur won the Asian Tour's season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Thailand last December, while Jeev Milkha Singh ended a seven-year title drought with victory at the European Tour-Asian Tour’s co-sanctioned China Open earlier this month.

While cricket continues to dominate in India, Singh says golf can gain ground and eventually attract almost as much attention.

"I think it'll take a few years," Singh was quoted as saying "Cricket is a religion in our country and golf is our number two sport."

The China Open victory made Singh only the second Indian after Arjun Atwal to win on the European Tour. Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa have also won the Asian Tour Order of Merit titles previously.

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"In reaching out to the young and boosting their interest, India should create more driving ranges and golf courses so that the kids can play the game," Singh said. "China has given a lot to sports and India should do the same and develop other sports such as golf."

Amandeep Johl, chairman of the Asian Tour's Tournament Players Committee, also is optimistic about the future of Indian golf, thanks to the country's growing economic clout.

"When you look around the world, if the economy of one country is doing well, golf is doing well," said Johl, who is also Indian.