As reported by HT on Sunday, the 2011 calendar announced by the Asian Tour on Tuesday does not mention India's national Open in its “provisional list of 25 elite tournaments”.
With the finale of the Indian Open on Sunday, the five-year tripartite agreement between the Indian Golf Union (IGU), Asian Tour and promoter, World Sport Group (WSG), also came to an end.
A fresh contract is a speck on the horizon with the IGU conveying to the Asian Tour that a decision cannot be arrived at before its Council meeting in end-January-early February.
As mentioned by Kyi Hla Han, executive chairman, Asian Tour, the dates in October-November (save the two weeks between Oct 9-27) are blocked (see box) and if a fresh contract is not in place quickly, the Indian Open may have to be shifted from its traditional slot of mid-October and accommodated during a “non-peak” period like December. That, in turn, could mean a non-attractive field.
This year the event was slotted late only because of the CWG.
An IGU Council member, requesting anonymity, told HT, “It's sad the way things are, everyone was aware the contract was coming to an end, yet no steps were taken."
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