A player auction for a new golf tournament inspired by cricket’s hugely successful Indian Premier League has finished with former US Open winner Michael Campbell attracting the highest bid, organisers said on Sunday.

The franchise-based Golf Premier League, to be played at the Aamby Valley golf course near the western city of Pune from February 8 to 10, has a prize pot of $US400,000 and a winner’s purse of $US250,000.

Eight franchises hired four players each, with New Zealander Campbell winning the highest bid of $61,000 and two other Major winners, Darren Clarke and Angel Cabrera, both picked up for $55,000.

Asian tour stars Thaworn Wiratchant and Chapchai Nirat went for $37,000 each at the auction in Mumbai on Saturday night.

The teams, made up of both foreign and Indian golfers, will play three 14-hole rounds, according to Indian golfer Shiv Kapur, one of the event organisers.

The Colombo team, the lone foreign franchise, is promoted by Sri Lanka’s cricket captain Mahela Jayawardene.