Kashi tees off: pro golf's DP World PGTI NexGen Tour makes its Varanasi debut at BLW Greens

Varanasi added a new chapter to its sporting story this summer as the city hosted its own leg of the DP World PGTI NexGen Tour, one of Indian professional golf's development circuits. The tournament was played at the BLW Greens Golf Course, bringing top-level fairway action to Kashi for the first time. Kolkata's Sunit Chowrasia sealed the title on 19 June with a commanding four-shot victory, closing at six-under 204 across his three rounds. The win was historic for the golfer himself: it completed a hat-trick of consecutive NexGen wins, a first in the tour's history, and equalled a record of three victories in a single season that had stood since 2010. The result also earned him the season's Order of Merit crown and a step up to the main tour for 2027. Beyond the trophy, the bigger story is Varanasi appearing on the national golf map. Hosting a professional event gives the city's players and young enthusiasts a rare chance to watch leading competitors up close, and puts local facilities like BLW Greens in the spotlight. As Kashi keeps broadening its identity beyond pilgrimage and heritage, a marquee golf tournament is one more sign of a city widening its horizons in sport.

Compiled by HelloBanaras from public sources: The Tribune · Big News Network