NEW DHELI – A team-based golf event inspired by cricket’s Indian Premier League and starring a host of major winners tees off on Friday, with organisers hoping the “snappy” format will attract new fans to the sport.British Open winner Darren Clarke and two-time major champion Angel Cabrera, are among those taking part in the Golf Premier League franchise at the Aamby Valley golf course near the western Indian city of Pune over three days.The televised $400 000 floodlit tournament will feature eight teams of four players battling it out over three stroke play rounds of 14 holes, rather than the four rounds of 18 holes seen in most tour events.Each team will comprise two players who have made a mark at international level, an Asian Tour star and an upcoming player, all selected at an auction held in Mumbai last month.Former US Open winner Michael Campbell attracted the highest bid at the auction, going for $61 000 to the Shubhkamna Eagles, who have also signed up Indian professional Anirban Lahiri and Daniel Chopra of Sweden.Cabrera was snapped up for $55 000 by the Maharashtra 59’ers, who also have tournament organiser and Indian professional Shiv Kapur on their side. “Its short, sharp and snappy,” said Kapur.“Its a format that will attract new fans to the sport. Like Twenty20 cricket, it will be over in three hours and played late evenings after office hours.”Northern Irishman Clarke fetched $55 000 and will play for Uttarakhand Lions, a team co-owned by India’s test spinner Harbhajan Singh.
