Shiv says: The three-time Asian Tour winner has lent his name to the new EAGL

Past experience tells Shiv Kapur that the ambitious new franchise-based Emirates Amateur Golf League (EAGL) is a viable concept. So much so, he’s put his name behind it. The three-time Asian Tour winner talks about his ambassadorial role for golf’s answer to IPL cricket and has some advice for EGF amateurs keen to put their game under the glare of the television cameras when the Ryder Cup-style league launches in November.

- KENT GRAY

Going back to 2013 when I did my own version of a golf league for professionals in India, it created a lot of buzz and excitement. It’s very exciting to play in and as spectators, it gives you something new and edgy to watch.

I think golf in general needs a bit of a shake-up. If you look at the success of the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and team events, they really bring in a larger audience. It also attracts a newer audience into the game. People support teams better than they support individuals.

When I sat with [EAGL founder] Mr. Sudesh Aggarwal and his team, I thought it’d be really cool if we had something like this for professionals, but the fact that it is being done for amateurs, I feel like this is the future of golf… the first of many leagues around the world. Now that Dubai is home for me, I thought it is a perfect platform for me to associate with because this is where the real growth of the game will come from.

Being a brand ambassador is an all-encompassing role in a way. It’s about advising them from my experience in the golfing world having been a professional for 16 years now. Also, having done a golf league myself, my learnings to help them not make the mistakes I made.