Avantha Masters to be played at New Delhi in February

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY EUROPEAN AND ASIAN TOURS
India will welcome a new tournament in 2010, the €1.5 million Avantha Masters, which will be played at DLF Golf & Country Club, New Delhi, from February 11-14.
A three-year agreement with the Avantha Group, one of India’s most prominent business conglomerates, signals India’s strong intent to become a leading golfing destination through what will be the first event in a new joint venture between the Asian Tour and The European Tour – to be known as EurAsia Golf Ltd - with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) as the other partner in the tri-sanctioned tournament.
The European Tour paid two visits to the thriving city of New Delhi in February 2008, for the Indian Masters at Delhi Golf Club, won by local hero S.S.P. Chowrasia, then the Johnnie Walker Classic at DLF Golf & Country Club, where New Zealand’s Mark Brown captured the title. Both events were also sanctioned with the Asian Tour and PGTI.
As well as Chowrasia, Indian golfers have made a notable impact on the world stage in recent years. Jeev Milkha Singh, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year, and countryman, Arjun Atwal, are both three-time European Tour winners, while Shiv Kapur – who lost out in a play-off for the South African Open on Sunday - and Jyoti Randhawa have triumphed on their home continent.
DLF Golf & Country Club, designed by Arnold Palmer, was first opened for play in 1999. It also boasts India’s only night golfing facility, and a clubhouse designed by architect Hafeez Contractor. The 7,250-yard, par-72 course is situated below the gently rolling Aravalli Hills, in park ground that includes five lakes, waterfalls, around 14,000 trees and signature Palmer white-sand bunkers.