A lot is happening on the Indian professional golf scenario. The European Tour has been making news locally as they are slated to hit the country twice early next year. While the Indian Masters is a new event, the Johnnie Walker, which rotates between Australia and Asia will be held at the DLF Golf and Country Club in February 2008.

But the action starts with the Indian Open, scheduled next week and featuring one of the strongest fields in the recent past. European Tour champion and Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Jeev Milkha Singh will be amongst the foremost contenders for the country?s elitist golf title and it will be his first appearance in a tournament within the country since his historic victory on the European tour last year.

This is one title that still eludes him, but given his consistent performance on the European Tour this year he might just be the man to watch ? he may not be winning like last year but he has consistently made cuts and is 39 th on the European tour Order of Merit with 627,908 euros earned in prize money so far this season.

Other European tour regulars in contention will be Jyoti Randhawa, who will defend his title and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat. The Indian Open will also play host to leading Asian Tour players and PGTI professionals.

The Delhi Golf Course has been lengthened in preparation for the Indian Open and with its tight fairways and dreaded bushes, playing conditions will be tough. However, it is the home course of Gaurav Ghei who has been having an excellent season and is ranked sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, giving him an added advantage.

The PGTI?s season opener ? the BILT Open 2007, which will be played at the Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Greater Noida is immediately after the Indian Open. With the professionals at the top of their game after a long break on the domestic calendar, competition will be tough and it will be a great week to watch the quality of the game on the domestic tour, which has considerably improved over the last one year.

The BILT Open 2007 also boasts the richest purse on the PGTI Tour and with such big prize money on offer, has also attracted participation from Asian Tour regulars who are showing interest in the domestic tour.

After Korea and Thailand, we have the richest domestic tour in the country and it will now be a challenge to ensure that the local professionals benefit from this increase in prize money and foreign participation be kept to a minimum. After all, that it the only way to ensure that the quality of the game improves and that there is more depth on the tour ? the more tournaments on the domestic tour will in turn encourage better scoring, sharper play and eventually tougher competition, preparing individuals for other tours.

So there is a lot in store as the season for golf gets underway. Indian golf is making its presence felt globally and the possibilities are endless.