Golf’s T20 moment? Say hello to 72 The League

FOR THE LONGEST time, golf in India has been that well-behaved cousin at a wedding.

- Rahil Gangjee

Polite. Elegant. Understated. Finishes its dessert quietly and leaves before the DJ plays “Kala Chashma.”And suddenly—boom—we have 72 The League. Not just a tournament. Not just another week on the calendar where we complain about bunker rakes and missed putts. A proper league. Franchises. Auctions. Team jerseys. Strategy rooms. Owners discussing player combinations like IPL scouts. It’s golf, but with a little swagger.

Now before the purists spill their Darjeeling tea, let’s understand something. This isn’t about turning golf into cricket. It’s about giving it a microphone. And what a launch it was.

When you have Jay Shah and Kapil Dev sharing stage space at the unveiling, you know the spotlight isn’t accidental. Jay Shah represents the administrative power centre of global cricket. Kapil paaji, apart from being the man who made 1983 possible, now also wears the hat of President of the Professional Golf Tour of India. That’s not a coincidence. That’s intent. And intent is what Indian golf has needed for a while.

Let’s rewind. Golf is traditionally individualistic. It’s you, your bag, your caddie, your swing thoughts, and occasionally your therapist. You win alone. You lose alone. You blame the wind alone.

But 72 The League flips the script. It introduces city-based franchises. It creates teams of professionals playing singles and various matchplay formats. It introduces the concept of strategy beyond yardage books. Suddenly, your birdie helps not just your card, but your team’s standings. And let me tell you — golfers secretly love being part of a team. We just pretend we don’t. We’ve all grown up playing practice rounds where the banter is better than the golf. Now imagine that dynamic formalised. Structured. Televised. Supported by owners who actually want you to win because there’s skin in the game.