Golconda Masters Golf Championship tees off today

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India on Tuesday announced the start of the sixth edition of Golconda Masters Golf Championship 2020 powered by Telangana Tourism at the Hyderabad Golf Club (HGC) from February 5 to8.

The Championship will carry a prize purse of Rs. 40 lakh. The Pro-Am event of the season-opener will be held on February 9.

The tournament which will witness participation by 126 golfers (123 professionals and three amateurs) is supported by presenting partner Vooty Golf County and Haldi Golf County, powered by Telangana Tourism, associate partner Incredible India, host partner Hyderabad Golf Association and news partner WION.

The top Indian professionals in the fray include Asian Tour regulars Rashid Khan (2019 PGTI Order of Merit champion), Khalin Joshi, Aman Raj and Viraj Madappa as well as other leading players such as former champions Udayan Mane (2018 winner) and Harendra Gupta (2015 winner), to name a few.

The foreign challenge will be led by the Sri Lankan trio of Mithun Perera, N Thangaraja and K Prabagaran as well as Bangladesh's Md Dulal Hossain and Md Sayum.

The local challenge will be led by Hyderabad-based players including professionals such as Haider Hussain, Mohd Azhar, Venkkat Gautham and Rupinder Singh Gill as well as amateurs such as Hardik S Chawda, Rahul Ajay and Shawn Reddy.

Former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey will be playing his first event as a professional at the Golconda Masters 2020. Tirkey, a three-time Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist, had last month played the PGTI Qualifying School 2020 in Ahmedabad.

Shri B Venkatesham, IAS, Secretary to Government of Telangana, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture Department, said "We are delighted to be associated with the sixth edition of the Golconda Masters.

The tournament provides us the perfect platform to showcase the state of Telangana and the city of Hyderabad as a top-class tourist destination.

The event also helps us promote the majestic Hyderabad Golf Club as a world-class golfing destination as it is a one-of-its-kind golfing venue set against the backdrop of the historic Golconda Fort.

We wish the players all the best and look forward to yet another successful event."

K Prithvi Reddy, CEO, Vooty Golf County & Haldi Golf County, said, "We are extremely delighted to associate with the Golconda Masters 2020 conducted by the Professional Golf Tour of India.

As part of our commitment to present a delightful golf experience, it is an honour to be a part of the tournament and encourage the young talents."