India’s Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) is in hot water after suspending 17 top golfers for playing in a rival event that overlapped with its own tournament. PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl recently opened up about the drama, explaining why the tour sent show-cause notices to players like Olympic star Gaganjeet Bhullar, Aman Raj, Harendra Gupta, Karandeep Kochhar, and Sachin Baisoya.
The trouble started when these pros teed off at the Yuvraj Singh-backed Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Invitational Tournament at Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida from September 17 to 19. That schedule directly clashed with the PGTI Chennai Open, running from September 16 to 19. The move sparked big backlash in the golf community, as fans and players worry it could hurt the sport’s growth in India.
Johl made it clear: PGTI has no problem with members chasing extra cash in other tournaments—as long as they don’t bump into official PGTI events. “If you want to play in a private tournament for your own reasons, go ahead,” Johl told . “We’re thrilled if our players make more money. But during our event week, please don’t play elsewhere. Just ask us for permission first.”
He pointed out PGTI’s packed calendar: 25 weeks of tournaments, leaving 27 weeks wide open for other gigs. “We’re begging with folded hands—don’t compete against us during our time,” Johl said. “We’ve announced our schedule in advance. If players stack 10 events on top of ours, that’s not fair.”
The suspensions hit hard because they scare off sponsors. Johl explained that when star players skip PGTI events, it leaves organizers scrambling to explain to backers. “Why would sponsors invest if our top talent isn’t showing up?” he said. “It hurts everyone’s paycheck in the end.” The show-cause notices ask players to justify skipping permission, and Johl stressed that PGTI still wants them back on the course.
The PGTI’s Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC), made up of five members including fellow players, handled the quick suspensions alongside the notices. Some golfers argue the DAC went too far by acting before a full probe. Johl countered that the committee sets the rules: Players must appear on September 27 to make their case. “Until they decide, you can’t play in our tournaments—that’s it,” he said.
Now, frustrated pros are turning to the courts for help. They’ve filed two cases in the Delhi High Court, including a fresh one from Ranjeet Singh and Kapil Kumar, pushing for fair play in PGTI rules. Johl shrugged it off, noting players are independent contractors who can sue if they want. “The association exists to boost professional golfers in India,” he added. “Even president Kapil Dev stepped in from cricket to make things better for you all.” As the golf world watches, this clash could reshape how tours and players navigate conflicts in Indian professional golf.
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