The Tata Steel Tour Championship will be held at the 18-hole Golmuri golf course from December 17 to 20 following strict Covid-19 protocols.

The four-day championship, which carries a prize money of Rs 1.5 crore, will be preceded by a pro-am (professional-amateur) event.

“The last six months have indeed been the longest and the darkest to us all. Now with the permission to conduct tournaments within Unlock guidelines, we are going to stage five tournaments in November and December for season 2020-2021,” said Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

The Golmuri greens have always won accolades for top golfers who have come to the steel city for the tournament. The pro-am gives an opportunity to local golfers to play alongside professionals.

Shedding light on the Covid protocols, Mundy said players must get their Covid test done 72 hours prior to their arriving at the tournament venue for the practice round.

Only those with a negative test report will be allowed. Players not carrying their test reports will not be allowed to enter the tournament venue.

The installation of the Arogya Setu app is recommended to update their health status.

Social distancing of at least six feet must be practiced at all times at the tournament venue, and masks mandatory in all areas except while playing on the course and during dining.

Gatherings are strictly prohibited and players will be asked to leave the venue as soon as their round has been completed.

No practice will be allowed after the round.

If a player is showing any signs of illness he will be asked to stay home and follow health protocols as recommended by health authorities.

No player other than those as mentioned in the tournament entry list or draw (practice rounds 1 and 2), and those making the cut (rounds 3 and 4) will be allowed entry at the tournament venue.

Players can opt to carry their own bag.

Starters must wear a mask, a face shield and gloves.

Only a scorecard and hole location or local rules sheet will be distributed on the tee. They will be stapled together and given to the marker. There will be no exchange of paper between the participants.

Mundy said five events are scheduled to be played in 2020 and that the current season has been extended to 2021.

The season resumes with the Tata Steel PGTI Players Championship to be hosted by Panchkula Golf Club.

Chandigarh Golf Club will present the same event from November 9-12.

The format for the event will be the same as for the previous event, except the third and fourth rounds will be played only at Chandigarh during the week.

The Jeev Milkha Singh invitational will be held from December 3-6 at the Chandigarh Golf Club, followed by the Indian Oil Servo Masters Golf at Digboi Golf Links in Digboi from December 9-12.