Srinagar, Aug 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated the fifth edition of the J&K Open 2026 DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) at the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), reaffirming the government’s commitment to positioning Jammu & Kashmir as a premier golf tourism destination.
The Chief Minister formally launched the four-day professional tournament by teeing off the opening shot and unveiling the championship trophy at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar.
Addressing the gathering, Abdullah said golf tourism would be a key component of the government’s broader tourism strategy, highlighting the Union Territory’s golf courses at Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sidra in Jammu. He said the government was also exploring the upgradation of another golf course in the Jammu region.
He said Jammu & Kashmir was already witnessing encouraging growth in golf tourism, with visitors travelling to Srinagar specifically for weekend golfing experiences.
Describing the J&K Open as a landmark event, the Chief Minister said the tournament would help restore Kashmir’s place on India’s professional golfing map. He noted that the championship had attracted more than 100 professional golfers, including over 10 international participants.
Abdullah expressed confidence that the tournament would become a regular fixture, saying the government intends to host the J&K Open annually for at least the next five years. He added that efforts would be made to increase both the prize money and the scale of participation in future editions.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to establish a golf academy in Kashmir to identify and train young talent from an early age, enabling them to compete at national and international levels.
Emphasising the importance of sports development, Abdullah said local athletes possess immense talent but require greater exposure and competitive opportunities. He cited the recent selection of Jammu & Kashmir cricketer Auqib Nabi in India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series and the international success of mixed martial arts fighter Owais Yaqoob as examples of the region’s sporting potential.
He said hosting more national-level sporting events would inspire young athletes and provide them with opportunities to compete alongside established professionals.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Ashish Chandra Verma, PGTI Chief Executive Officer Amandeep Johal, Secretary, Royal Springs Golf Course, Haris Ahmad Handoo, Director Tourism Kashmir Syed Qamar Sajjad, and other senior officials were present at the inaugural ceremony.
