Bhubaneswar to Host First-Ever Professional Golf Tournament from November 4

Bhubaneswar: In a historic first for Odisha, the state capital will host a professional golf tournament — the Dilip Tirkey Invitational — at the Bhubaneswar Golf Club from November 4 to 6, 2025. The event marks the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI)’s debut in the state and is the eighth and final leg of the 2025 PGTI NEXGEN season.

The three-day championship will see 72 professional golfers competing across 54 holes, with a cut applied after 36 holes. The top 36 players and ties will advance to the final round. The tournament carries a prize purse of ₹20 lakh, with the winner taking home ₹2.54 lakh.

Among the participants are top golfers from across India, including Odisha’s own Ankit Padhi, Satya Ranjan Pattanaik, and amateur Pradeep Bhagat. Sanjeev Kumar from Lucknow currently leads the PGTI NEXGEN Order of Merit with earnings of ₹7,08,740 this season. The Order of Merit winner will gain automatic entry to the 2026 PGTI main tour.

With this event, Odisha becomes the 18th state to host a PGTI tournament.

Indian hockey legend and tournament host Dilip Tirkey expressed pride in bringing professional golf to Odisha, saying, “Hosting the Dilip Tirkey Invitational is a milestone for Bhubaneswar. My vision is to promote golf at the grassroots and create opportunities for young talents.” He extended gratitude to PGTI President Kapil Dev and event partners Game Start, Tamanna, and Nitai for their support.

PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl said, “We are thrilled to introduce professional golf in Odisha. With the state’s rich sporting culture, this event will be a fitting finale to the NEXGEN Series.”

The Bhubaneswar Golf Club, featuring a scenic 9-hole course with plans to expand to 18 holes, provides a picturesque setting — surrounded by IT hubs on one side and lush forests on the other — for Odisha’s first major golf event.