India and China are both emerging economic powerhouses, but Ernie Els says the giant South Asian country has the jump on its communist neighbour when it comes to golf. The world number four, one of the sport's most prolific travellers who is a regular in Asia, based his assessment on India having developed players more quickly than China.
But he suggested India, which this week hosts its first European Tour event, needs to build more courses and fix up its infrastructure to truly make the teeming nation a golfing power. "I think they've got a couple more tournaments in China, more golf courses at the moment, but India is obviously right on its heels and is growing at a rapid pace," said the South African.
"I feel that Indian golfers at the moment are at a better level. "I might get shot for saying this, but you look at Jeev Milkha Singh and he's won on the European Tour, in Japan, and then there's Shiv Kapur, Jyoto Randhawa, and Arjun Atwal.
"So Indian players have already broken through and I think that's really going to help in the future." China plays host to six Asian or European Tour events this year while India will hold four, up from just one last year.
Els said India still had its work cut out, but sees a bright future. "You need to start building more courses and better infrastructure for your future golfers," he said. "But it will grow. There's a lot of talent here, Indians play a lot of ball sports like cricket, hockey, there are good tennis players, so the ball sense is there with the youngsters. "Picking up golf will be easier here than in China."
And, like Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han, Els expects more big golf tournaments to head to India. "With the economy going the way it is over here, there's a lot of huge property development, a huge growing middle class, so I can see a lot more golf events being played here and I'm sure big players will follow."
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