Indian Open to be jointly sanctioned by Asian, European Tour

The Indian Open will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour in 2015.

Taking place Feb 19-22, 2015, at a soon to be confirmed venue, the $1.5 million championship will be promoted by sports management company Nimbus Sport from 2015 to 2017 in partnership with the Indian Golf Union (IGU).

The tournament, which has been played since 1964, will offer a chance to Indian golfing talents to compete against many top players from both Tours, which began to co-sanction tournaments together in Asia since 1999.

"The IGU Council is extremely delighted by the elevation of the tournament as a European Tour event which will not only attract the best talent but will place the tournament on an even higher pedestal and add to its grandeur," IGU president Raian Irani said Friday.

"Now that the bar has been further raised, I am sure that winning the Indian Open will be on every golfer's wish-list, locally and globally."

The tournament will also form part of the annual Race to Dubai.

"We are delighted to announce the Indian Open will be part of the Race to Dubai in 2015 and we look forward to returning to India, following five editions of the Avantha Masters from 2008-13," European Tour chief operating officer Keith Waters said.