Like the discovery of oil at Digboi in 1889, which placed this quiet town in Assam on the world map, the IndianOil Servo Masters is another priceless nugget to emerge from these parts.
Related: Umed Kumar wins PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit in dramatic fashion
The scale up has been gradual but steady as the petroleum giant nurtured this critical stop on the Professional Golf Tour of India’s (PGTI) annual calendar in close understanding with the national federation.
The decades of effort find reflection in the rise in popularity and prize money since the historic Digboi Golf Links first played host in 1999.
It was the exploits of Rohtas Singh that defined the inaugural edition, and over time not only has the field got deeper, the prize money on offer in its 25th year is an impressive Rs 1 crore this time.
The wall of champions is as diverse as the topography of this unique facility nestled in the lap of nature in Upper Assam, and this time Jamal Hossain will attempt a feat replicated only by a handful previously.
Should that happen on November 21, Jamal will join Mukesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Shankar Das, Shamim Khan and Yuvraj Singh Sandhu as champions to hold aloft the trophy two times or more.
As always, it will be a storied field with current Order of Merit leader Yuvraj Sandhu leading the full-field event, which has a fair sprinkling of international names led by Asian Tour winner Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh.
Despite a profitable run this season, which has yielded a win and several other strong results, Jamal will have his task cut out against PGTI Order of Champions Manu Gandas and Om Prakash Chouhan.
The list of challengers goes on as the Bangladesh pro will also have to contend with Shaurya Bhattacharya, Angad Cheema, and Sri Lanka’s N Thangaraja, all of whom have been prolific this season.
It promises to be a week that will add to an already rich heritage, and ahead of the action, which commences on November 16, IndianOil chairman Arvinder Singh Sahney summed up the oil giant’s passion in promoting golf by broadening the canvas of the event.
“The 25th IndianOil SERVO Masters Golf is a profound milestone that goes beyond a sporting contest; it is a powerful celebration of the enduring legacy shared between IndianOil and the historic Digboi Golf Links at the ‘Gangotri of the Indian hydrocarbon sector’.
“As the longest-running event on the PGTI circuit, this silver jubilee edition reaffirms IndianOil’s deep, decades-long commitment to the North-East and our nation-first philosophy, ‘Pehle Indian, Phir Oil’. This guiding principle ensures our seamless energy support while actively powering national progress and sporting excellence,” he said.
