Rohit Kumar
New Delhi, Feb 14 (.) Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, who now dabbles in golf as head of the Professional Golf Tour of India(PGTI), feels that developing world-class golf infrastructure in India can become an “exciting” new opportunity to attract large numbers of foreign tourists to India.
Speaking to the press at the DP World Players Championship 2026 in Qutab Golf course on Friday, he pointed out that “Japanese go to Thailand to play, Koreans visit other countries to play because in their country Golf is very expensive. If we can create world-class Golf infrastructure here, then we can build substantial international tourism around that.”
Dev expressed satisfaction about the quality of the Golf at the DP World Players Championship 2026, which concluded today, “I feel very satisfied. One feels satisfied when things go as per plan. The course was great, so was the weather and at the end of the day, when someone scores under 23, what more can you ask for?”
Dev said he is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming ’72 league’ but was also a “bit nervous”, as “before anything as big as this, you do get the hibbie jibbies.” With his famous Kapil grin, he added, “It’s a bit like before getting married … also like the start of a cricket game … till the first ball is bowled, nerves are there.”
He emphasised the need to have more golf courses so that the game is more accessible. “At least 20 more such courses are required. Cricket can be played even on the street, but that can’t be done with Golf. In Delhi, we have enough Golf courses … but in the rest of the country, more are required.”
He said that a highly competitive league that includes international talent will help India in producing world-class golfers.
“More opportunity we give our golfers, the better they will be. Why did cricket reach this stage? Because competition is very high there, the best of the best players from abroad play the IPL … we want similar things for golf through this ‘league 72’. Professionals play for money, and that’s what I aim to do, to attract more money into the sport.”
He stressed that Indian golfers have immense talent and can shine on the world stage
“It’s very easy to say 22 under, but for scoring that you need nerves, technique, everything … and these golfers play 22 under, or 19 under, 18 under. Then you have to say that our boys have talent and that’s what we are looking for.”
When asked about why Indian golfers don’t fare as well in international tours, he felt they need more exposure and need to control their nerves
“It is just nerves … once they get used to playing there, they will do well,” he said. “I think they have the talent, it is just a case of them getting used to playing with them (foreign players). If you are to go and play with Virat Kohli, you too will be nervous. Once you get over that, the natural talent will come across.”
. . JRC .
