Women's Golf Association of India

April- Golf’s Mystic Masters Month

The first Ten days of April, were full of surprises. The 89th edition of“Augusta Masters” was the buzz for every golfer on the planet. The much awaited storied event with a prize fund of Twenty-Two and a half million dollar had much to be talked about.From her home front, a young nine year old girI from Chandigarh made headlines having being the only and first qualifier from India to have reached the finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt tournament staged on the sideline of Augusta Masters. A long journey away from home for Gairat Kahlon. Gairat’s confident demeanor on the various social media platforms speak of bigger things to come. Competing in front of hundreds of spectators and world media, Gairat remained poised and finished 5th in the 7-9 year category of DCP as popularly known. Indian Golf has evolved with several young girls playing in the sub junior category. Gairat and Rabab the two sisters playing in different age group categories will be interesting to watch on various Golf Tours as they enter their teens in a few years. Over the last three decades several young girls have made the country proud on a number of occasions.



It has been a privilege to play in tournaments with some of these young players. Three years ago I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn in a group with an 8 year old budding golfer. As my fellow competitor Ojaswini Saraswat played 18 over par on the long 6200 yards course. The diminutive little girl was completely unfazed and did not make a single error in her score count. In times when majority of youth spend hours on screen time, it was impressive to play with this talented player Ojaswini Sarawat. A strong golf swing Ojas (as she is known as) went on to playing junior tournaments in Scotland and other international venues winning several events. Amaira Gulati another champion in the making, travels with her parents achieving laurels in the game. These youngsters are the new generation of Indian golfers and are being groomed by the best coaches.

Augusta National Women Amateur Golf tournament another prestigious event held prior to the Augusta Masters for female golfers. The field had a young American Indian Megha Ganne display an incredible score of 63 on the Opening day. Megha finished tied 7th with a score of -7. The winning Amateur Bernat Escauder with a score of -12 will ruffle the top professional golfers in the coming years.

As the excitement soared for golf fans, the world’s largest two wheeler company HeroMotoCorp signed on two Iconic Golfers of Indian origin as their global brand ambassadors’ hours before the duo teed off at the Masters. Both of Indian Origin Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Teegala well known on the PGA received the coveted sponsorship. The Indian pair played well to remain in the Masters Field post the cut. The Indian Diaspora were not disappointed with the impressive golf they both displayed. The Augusta Masters had yet another surprise from Tiger Woods foundation who collaborated to refurbish a 9 hole par 3 course “Loop at the Patch” for educating through STEM and grooming of young players in golf.

While there is a global surge in development of junior golf and innovations on popularizing the game for future generations, we in India need to ensure that we keep pace with international standards. Several iconic golfers made it known across social media platforms on the lack of playing facilities in our country.

Promoting Golf as a family sport created waves across the global social Media Platforms with number of views of the Par three event at the Augusta Masters. Families of top iconic golfers and emotional bonds displayed in public augurs well for future development. The icing on the cake was young 4 year old Poppy McIlroy who stole the limelight with her25 foot putt that she sank on the 9th hole, on the par 3 day, with global media in attendance. The Iconic father Rory Mcllroy who went on the win the 2025 edition of the Augusta Masters, conferred words for Poppy at the prize giving speech which will be etched in the “Masters” history. An emotional hug post his win- Rory’s little girl little Poppy is indeed a head turner.

Ladies European Tour had fans enthralled from India, Diksha Dagar finished in the top ten at the Johannesburg and Cape town events with under par scores. Pranavi Urs certainly making a mark on the LET as well and she is close to a win.

Rhea Purvi Sarvanan, WGAI’s latest addition to the LET, played a creditable +3 in Investec South African Women’s Open but missed cut. All eyes on the forthcoming mixed event being staged in the last week of April at the Prestige Golf shire in Bengaluru. The 2cr prize money event is expected to raise the bar of high performance and prize money for other events during the year with both the male and female golfers vying for the same prize purse.

Champika Sayal
April 2025