New Delhi: Anirban Lahiri is an ideal mouthpiece for India to have in the golfing community, believes legendary Greg Norman, who feels the country needs more competitions like the recent International Series for development.
The former World No. 1 believes India have it in them to grow exponentially in the next 25 years for which hosting the International Series annually could help.
“One of my initial focus points was to invest into the sleeping giant, which was the Asian tour. India is a sleeping giant when it comes to Golf,” Norman has said, as quoted by PTI.
“I mean you just look what’s happening in India with the game of golf, it has only just started, right?” For the next 25 years, which is a generation, India is right in the middle of them.”
‘India golf’s sleeping giant’
Top names including Bryson DeChambeau, two-time Major winner Dustin Johnson and former No.1 Lee Westwood participated in the International Series in Gurugram that also included local hope Lahiri, on whom Norman showered praise.
“He’s not just a great golfer, but he’s a great person. He’s a great spokesperson. He’s a great representative of your country. So, all those ingredients allowed me to go, let’s go do it,” the 69-year-old Norman said.
From being a breakaway league launched in 2022, LIV golf has joined hands with the Asian Tour and LIV to adhere to the traditional 72-hole concept while hosting the International Series.
Winner 88 professional titles, Norman feels LIV can shape the future of Indian golf that has produced some notable players but has stymied in the last five years.
“I love LIV to come to India because to me, it’s significant, right? Everything takes baby steps. And obviously, the international place to enter the league is important to do that,” he said.
“LIV created a new dynamic for the game of golf because it gave an opportunity in the competitive golfing world for a new business model…Different formats have come out and enticed millions and millions of people to come into the game of golf.
“I truly believe LIV will be the true global golf platform for golf. We want to be in all the continents of the world…We bring a product that’s a plug and play that’s never been done before. We bring franchise models. We’re bringing the youth side of it,” he added.
Greg Norman believes India have it in them to grow exponentially in golf in the next 25 years for which hosting events like the International Series annually could help. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
