February 2026 marks the most disruptive month in the history of Indian professional golf. The industry is navigating a rare “Double-League” scenario while simultaneously absorbing the downstream impact of the Union Budget 2026–27 and its record infrastructure push.
1. The League War: “72 The League” vs. “IGPL”
For the first time, India has two competing franchise-based professional golf leagues operating in parallel, creating a split in player participation and sponsorship focus.
- 72 The League (PGTI-backed): Launched by the Professional Golf Tour of India in partnership with Game of Life Sports (GOLS). This league is built around India’s established professional core, featuring city-based franchises like the UP Prometheans. It is scheduled to run from February 21 to March 6, 2026, across Delhi-NCR venues (Qutab, Classic, and Jaypee Greens).
- Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL): Promoted by the IGU/WGAI with Yuvraj Singh as a key face. IGPL positions itself as a high-energy “festival of golf,” featuring both men and women.
- The Player Ultimatum: PGTI President Kapil Dev has publicly clarified that professionals must choose one ecosystem, famously stating, “You cannot stay in two homes at the same time.” This has forced India’s top players to choose between the traditional pro pathway and the entertainment-led league model.
2. Budget 2026: The “Viksit Bharat” Catalyst
The Union Budget presented on February 1, 2026, delivered a strong tailwind to golf through a record ₹12.2 lakh crore Capital Expenditure (CapEx) allocation.
- City Economic Regions (CERs): The government has allocated ₹5,000 crore per CER to unlock urban growth. This will accelerate “Golf & MICE” developments in Tier-2 hubs like Raipur and Ahmedabad.
- Sports Manufacturing Boost: A dedicated ₹500 crore initiative for sports goods manufacturing was announced, aiming to make India a global hub for high-quality equipment.
- Ministry Funding: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports saw a ₹1,133 crore increase in its budget, totaling ₹4,479.88 crore for FY27.
3. Professional Circuit: The ₹1.5 Crore Season Opener
The DP World PGTI 2026 season officially teed off today with a major signal of financial maturity.
- Chhattisgarh Open 2026: The season opener began today (Feb 3, 2026) at Fairway Golf & Lake Resort, Naya Raipur. The prize purse has been raised to ₹1.5 crore, a 50% increase from last year.
- DP World Partnership: As the umbrella partner, DP World is strengthening India’s integration into the global ecosystem, offering paths to the European and US tours.
- Upcoming Purses: The momentum continues with the DP World Players Championship later this month at Qutab (Delhi) and Tollygunge (Kolkata), both carrying ₹1.5 crore purses.
4. Operational Shift: TIM 2.0 & Data-Driven Courses
Indian golf courses are undergoing a quiet but critical transformation in operations.
- ERP Adoption: Systems like TIM 2.0 (by Goldfish Technologies) are replacing manual tee-sheets. This “Made-in-India” platform helps courses identify hidden capacity and optimize slot utilization.
- The Yield Game: Similar to airlines, courses are now using data to manage demand, ensuring that 9-hole and 18-hole slots are priced and filled with maximum efficiency.
5. Regional Context: The Philippines Surge
While India dominates domestic headlines, the Philippine Golf Championship (Feb 5–8, 2026) is set to open the Asian Tour season at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club with a $500,000 prize purse, reminding the industry of the intense competition for the Asian golf tourism dollar.
Industry Implications
February 2026 represents a moment of competitive tension and capital deployment. With the PGTI’s “72 The League” debuting on the 21st and a historic Union Budget reshaping sports infrastructure, the narrative has shifted from mere participation to high-stakes League Economics and Policy Impact.
Data & Research Methodology:
This report aggregates data from the Union Budget 2026-27 (Feb 1), official DP World PGTI 2026 schedules, and tournament launches at Naya Raipur (Feb 3). Forward-looking assessments are based on published league frameworks.
