Hyderabad, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Local favourite Vishesh Sharma and Noida’s Amardeep Malik moved into a share of the halfway lead at 14-under 126 after the second round of the INR 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Association course in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Vishesh (60-66), who matched the course record with an opening 10-under 60, followed it with a four-under 66 containing six birdies and two bogeys. The two nines presented a sharp contrast for the Hyderabad golfer.

Starting from the 10th, Vishesh made the most of the course’s scoring stretch before encountering a more difficult run on the front nine. Malik (61-65), who began the day alone in third and one stroke behind overnight co-leaders Vishesh and Dhruv Sheoran, made six birdies against a solitary bogey on the par-five 17th for a five-under 65.

The 41-year-old, a two-time winner on the DP World PGTI, reached the top despite feeling that he had not struck the ball as consistently as he did during his opening 61. Sheoran (60-67) slipped one spot to third at 13-under 127. The Gurugram golfer mixed six birdies with a bogey on the par-five eighth and a double bogey on the par-four 18th, his final hole of the day, in a three-under 67.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (64-64) produced a second successive six-under 64, making seven birdies and one bogey to climb from tied fifth to fourth at 12-under 128.

Bangladesh’s Md Akbar Hossain (67-66) and Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (66-67), a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI, shared fifth place at seven-under 133. Vishesh was satisfied with his score after returning early in the morning following a late finish to his opening round.

“I’m pleased with the round, although the two nines were quite contrasting,” he said. “I started well on the back nine and put together a run of birdies, but the front nine was more of a mixed bag. A few things could have gone better, but it was important to adapt quickly and settle into the round.”

Morning rain softened the fairways, while stronger winds and more demanding flag positions forced players to alter their approach. “The course played very differently compared with yesterday,” Vishesh said. “The fairways were much softer, the wind was considerably stronger, and the flags were tucked into more difficult areas. I had to adjust my strategy, aim for the correct sections of the greens and avoid chasing every flag.”

His knowledge of the course helped him identify safer misses, although he still left himself several difficult recovery shots. “Playing at my home course gives me a slight advantage because I know the better places to miss,” Vishesh said. “Today, however, I landed it in the wrong areas a few times and had to work hard on some up-and-downs.”

He identified the shorter par fours from the 12th through the 15th as the main scoring stretch, while describing the fourth, fifth and eighth as some of the course’s more demanding holes.

Malik was even more satisfied with his second-round 65 than his opening 61 because of the number of difficult situations he successfully negotiated. “I didn’t strike the ball particularly well today,” Malik said. “There were stretches when I hit it nicely, but there were also moments when I left myself some challenging par saves. Fortunately, I managed to make the most of them, which is why I was actually happier with today’s round.”

Malik admitted that his opening score tempted him into playing more aggressively than the course demanded. “After shooting a low number, the instinct is to attack again,” he said. “But this isn’t a course you can overpower. You have to play intelligently, and I didn’t do that particularly well in a few places.”

Two birdies stood out for Malik. On the second, he drove the green into the headwind for the first time at this venue and two-putted. He then birdied the difficult 18th after hitting a drive and pitching wedge to eight feet.

“Reaching the second green showed that the work I put in during the summer has helped,” Malik said. “The birdie on the 18th was also satisfying because it is a tough hole playing into the wind.”

Panchkula’s 15-year-old Arjunveer Shishir (72-63) became the youngest player to make the cut on the DP World PGTI. His seven-under 63 lifted him into a share of 12th place at five-under 135.

Defending champion Jamal Hossain (72-66) of Bangladesh climbed from tied 72nd to tied 24th at two-under 138. Current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (70-67) moved from tied 50th to tied 17th at three-under 137.

The round also produced a first in DP World PGTI history, with three holes-in-one recorded on the same day. Abhinav Lohan and Anshul Kabthiyal both aced the par-three 11th, while Harman Sachdeva made his hole-in-one on the par-three seventh.

The cut fell at one-over 141, with 59 players from the field of 132 advancing to the final two rounds.

The Race to India Championship is a competition to crown the DP World PGTI’s number one player, and this competition will also determine the top-24 players from the PGTI Order of Merit who will earn their spots at the season-ending DP World India Championship.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Masters Champion and current Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, along with fellow winner at Augusta National, Bubba Watson, have confirmed their participation in the star-studded 2026 India Championship.

The American duo will tee off in a field of global stars, including defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy and 2026 Open Champion Ryan Fox, when the highly anticipated event returns for its second edition at Delhi Golf Club from October 15-18.

Major winners Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald and Ryder star Viktor Hovland will all return to the India Championship, while DP World Tour and PGA Tour winner Min Woo Lee will make his debut. Shubhankar Sharma and Anirban Lahiri are among the Indian stars aiming to delight the home fans.

Reed, who claimed his first Major title at Augusta National in 2018, is aiming to top the season-long Race to Dubai Rankings for the first time.

The three-time Ryder Cup star will arrive in Delhi seeking his third win of the season, having secured his first Rolex Series title at the Dubai Desert Classic in January and then winning the Qatar Masters two weeks later.

"I really enjoy playing all over the world and I’m looking forward to teeing it up in the India Championship for the first time. It looks like a great event and field, and it comes at an important time in the season, so I’m excited to see what we can do in Delhi," Reed said.

Two-time Masters winner Watson – who claimed the Green Jacket in 2012 and 2014 - will also arrive at Delhi Golf Club for the first time in October.

The left-hander, who boasts 15 career victories, said, “It’s always fun to play in new events and this is one that I was happy to be able to add to my schedule. I’ve heard that Delhi Golf Club is a great test, and golf fans in India are very passionate, so I’m looking forward to the week.”

The USD 4,000,000 event, co-sanctioned with the Professional Golf Tour of India, features the largest prize fund ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India and will once again be part of the crucial Back 9 phase of the Race to Dubai.

The India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai, building towards the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs and culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Sep 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dhruv Sheoran and local favourite Vishesh Sharma produced matching course-record scores of 10-under 60 to share the opening-round lead at the INR 1 crore Telangana Golconda Masters 2026 in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The pair holds a one-shot advantage after the first round of the tournament’s 12th edition at Hyderabad Golf Association.

The 31-year-old Sheoran, who hails from Gurugram, made 11 birdies against a solitary bogey to register the lowest score of his career. A winner on the DP World PGTI in 2024, he entered the week ranked 12th on the 2026 Race to India Championship.

Starting from the par-five 10th, Sheoran made five consecutive birdies through the 14th before dropping his only shot of the day on the par-four 15th. He recovered immediately and remained bogey-free for the rest of his round.

Hyderabad’s 19-year-old Vishesh, competing in his second season on the PGTI Tour, matched Sheoran during the afternoon session. His 60 featured an eagle on the par-five sixth, nine birdies and one bogey.

Noida’s Amardeep Malik, a two-time winner on the tour, remained one stroke behind the leaders at solo-third after posting a nine-under 61. The 41-year-old made 10 birdies and one bogey. Japan’s Koichiro Ishika, playing his maiden season on the DP World PGTI, produced a bogey-free seven-under 63 to occupy fourth place.

Sheoran’s round began in unlikely fashion when he pulled his opening drive into a bunker on another hole. With trees blocking his route to the green, he shaped a 40-yard cut from about 260 yards, found the putting surface and nearly holed his first putt from 50 feet before tapping in for birdie.

“I got off to a hot start, although the opening tee shot went left and left me out of position,” said Sheoran. “I made good contact with the recovery, found the green and nearly holed the long putt. That gave me a lot of momentum.”

He followed with a 20-foot birdie conversion on the 11th, a 10-footer on the 12th and an eight-footer on the 13th. Sheoran then drove the green on the 14th and two-putted to complete five consecutive birdies.

His only setback came on the 15th, where he pushed a pitching-wedge lay-up into the trees and needed to take a penalty drop. “The birdies had given me a cushion, and I knew the momentum was still on my side, so the mistake did not unsettle me,” he said.

Finding the fairway on the first, a tee shot Sheoran considers particularly challenging, restored his rhythm for the closing stretch. “Once I hit that tee shot the way I wanted, I felt I could express my game,” he said. “From there, I played with controlled aggression and continued executing my tee shots and approaches.”

Sheoran moved his base to Japan in mid-June because his wife is Japanese. The relocation disrupted his usual practice routine, and he initially struggled to rediscover his preferred right-to-left ball flight after returning to competition.

“I was quite rusty when I came back and couldn’t move the ball the way I wanted,” Sheoran said. “I worked with my coach before last week’s Telangana Open and started seeing my preferred ball flight again. The top-10 finish there gave me the confidence I needed, and that progress showed today.”

Sheoran was unaware that he had matched the course record until completing his round. Standing over a 20-foot birdie putt on the last, he mistakenly believed he was nine-under and needed to hole it to equal the mark. “I later realised I was already 10-under,” he said. “It would have been nice to make that putt and establish a new course record.”

Vishesh also learned only after completing his round that he had matched Manu Gandas’ course record from 2022 at his home venue.

“Today’s round was very special, particularly because it came at my home course,” he said. “Everything seemed to go my way. I putted well, struck some good shots and, despite a slow start, stayed patient and kept returning my focus to the present.”

Vishesh converted a 15-foot eagle putt on the sixth, while another highlight arrived on the par-three 16th, where he struck his tee shot to about three feet and made birdie.

However, the teenager felt his par saves were just as valuable as the eagle and birdies. “The rough around the greens is quite thick, and the ball tends to sit down,” Vishesh said. “Even if you miss a green by only a foot, the recovery can be difficult. Saving par from those positions makes a significant difference by the end of the round.”

Matching the course record carried added significance for Vishesh because it came on familiar ground. “It is a special achievement, especially because it happened at my home course,” he said. “Playing here certainly helps. I get to sleep in my own bed, eat home-cooked food prepared by my mother and compete on a course I know extremely well.”

Sri Lanka’s N Thangaraja and Delhi’s Honey Baisoya shared fifth place at six-under 64. Defending champion Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh opened with a two-over 72 and was tied 72nd, while current PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar returned an even-par 70 to share 50th place.

The Race to DP World India Championship is a competition to crown the PGTI’s number one player, and this competition will also determine the top-24 players from the PGTI Order of Merit who will earn their spots at the season-ending DP World India Championship.

Source: IANS

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Belfry (England) Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shubhankar Sharma was unable to build on his first two good rounds as he managed only an even par 72 despite four birdies in the third round of theHusqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.

The 29-year-old Sharma had four birdies, two on either side of the Belfry but he also had two bogeys and a double bogey.

With a total of 4-under for 54 holes, he was down to T-33 after being T-13 at the halfway stage.

Marco Penge and Daniel Hiller shared the lead heading into the final round. Events at The Belfry have been disrupted by weather all week but there were no delays on Saturday as the second round was completed and the final group reached the sixth in the third.

In that final group were Penge and Hillier at 11 under and they both returned at 7.00am to face 30 holes of golf. When the hooter sounded, they were both looking at birdie putts on the sixth green, with Penge 23 feet from the hole and Hillier ten feet closer.

Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin was a shot back having completed the sixth, with Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti and South African Shaun Norris at nine under playing the eighth and sixth respectively.

Home hero Penge and Kiwi Hillier had both completed their final four holes of round two early on Saturday morning, with Penge dropping a shot and Hillier getting home in level par.

That gave Penge a one-shot lead after 36 holes. Hillier, meanwhile, who is looking for a second win at this event after his triumph in 2023, showed no signs of rust as he played his first event since The Open after a month back home in New Zealand.

When the duo got their third rounds under way at 6.31pm, Penge's one-shot lead was soon extended to two as he holed an 18-footer on the first but just as soon as it had grown, it had gone.

He went over the green and failed to get up and down on the next as Hillier put an approach to tap-in range and the 28-year-old was in front when he made a two-putt birdie on the par-five next as Penge saved par after finding the water.

An approach to tap-in range of his own had Penge back level on the fourth and both men parred the fifth before the hooter sounded as the light faded in the Midlands.

Source: IANS

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Atlanta, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Akshay Bhatia dropped two of his three bogeys late on the back nine and dropped to Tied-22nd out of 29 players at the end of the third round of the TOUR Championship. Placed T-11 after the second round, Bhatia’s 1-over 71 saw him take his total to 5-under following rounds of 65-69 and 71.

Bhatia dropped a shot on the fifth, which he got back on the 12th, but back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and the 15th saw him fall back again despite a birdie on the 17th.

There is one more round to go, but Bhatia by virtue of having qualified for the Tour Championship is assured of all four Majors next season.

Viktor Hovland made four birdie putts in his last six consecutive putts of seven feet or longer for a 5-under 65. He took a one-shot lead in a season finale very much up for grabs.

Hovland rolled in a pair of 8-foot birdie putts at the end to put him at 15-under 195, one shot ahead of TOUR Championship newcomer Ryan Gerard, who played bogey-free for a 66.

Scottie Scheffler (66) and Chris Gotterup (67), who have combined for five PGA TOUR titles this year, were three shots behind at 12-under 198. They were joined by sentimental favorite, 46-year-old Adam Scott, and Ludvig Åberg. Both shot 65 in search of their first win this year.

Also in the mix was Rory McIlroy, who had two bogeys, settled for par on the par-5 18th hole and still shot 63 to get within five shots. He was joined by Cameron Young, whose double bogey on the 10th hole set him back in a round of 68.

At stake on the final day is $10 million to the winner, the largest official payoff in golf for a single tournament, and the FedExCup title that comes with a five-year exemption on the PGA TOUR.

Hovland won the FedExCup in 2023 when he steamrolled through a three-tournament postseason and won the last two. This might not feel the same if he were to win on Sunday, though the Norwegian would happily leave town with two trophies.

Hovland was at his best on the greens coming down the stretch – 11 feet for birdie on the 13th, 18 feet to save par on the 14th, 11 feet for birdie on the peninsula-green 15th, a 7-foot par putt on the 16th and his closing birdies.

Gerard scrambled well, especially on the back nine, birdied both par 5s and stayed in the game for a chance at his first win this year, and possibly an easy decision to be a pick for the Presidents Cup.

That’s what McIlroy did, starting out seven shots behind with little to lose. He figured he would need another round like 63 to even contemplate a fourth FedExCup title.

He has been around for all the iterations of resetting points and starting strokes into the season finale. What he can’t recall is a traffic jam at the top, or last place being at 3-under par.

Scheffler also played bogey-free and rued not taking advantage of a few more birdie chances in the 8- to 12-foot range. But he’s right in the mix as he closes out a season of astonishing consistency that leaves him on the cusp of replacing Tiger Woods on the career money list.

In the middle of the congestion was Scott, who has a chance to win for the first time since 2020.

Source: IANS

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County Kildare, Ireland, Aug 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s star Pranavi Urs carded her third consecutive sub-par round but slid out of the top ten to settle for a tied-15th spot after a rain-marred moving day at the 2026 KPMG Women’s Irish Open here. The Mysuru professional added a two-under-par 70 on Saturday, taking her 54-hole cumulative score to a commendable seven-under-par (69-70-70) with just the final round left to play on Sunday.

Urs, who was the lone Indian to make the cut, as compatriots Diksha Dagar, Tvesa Malik, and Avani Prashanth missed the halfway cut, endured a rollercoaster start under testing, wet conditions at the Palmer South Course at The K Club.

The Hero-supported golfer launched an aggressive charge with back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes. However, she surrendered the early advantage immediately by dropping successive shots on the fourth and fifth. Refusing to let the setback derail her campaign, Urs fought back with a birdie on the par-4 seventh before picking up another stroke on the 10th hole. She concluded her resilient afternoon with eight straight, steady pars to sign for a 70.

At the top, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander looks poised to capture a wire-to-wire victory after carding a fine three-under 69. The 27-year-old weathered a 45-minute weather delay caused by heavy downpours to move to a commanding 18-under-par overall, maintaining a clear three-shot cushion over her nearest challenger.

Alexander, currently leading the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit and ranked World No. 38, fired an explosive front-nine 33 before rain halted play. Upon resumption, she endured a quiet stretch of six consecutive pars before birdieing the short 16th. A late bogey on the par-3 17th marginally trimmed her lead, but she remains the firm favourite to claim her second career LET title following her breakthrough at last year's Tipsport Czech Ladies Open.

Chasing the South African is the Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova, who holds solo second place at 15-under-par. The two-time LET winner fired a flawless, bogey-free five-under 67, punctuated by three birdies and a spectacular eagle on the par-5 seventh hole.

Two strokes further back sits the in-form Swede, Kajsa Arwefjall, who turned in the performance of the week with a jaw-dropping nine-under 63. Arwefjall's masterclass included eight birdies and an eagle on the par-5 10th, rocketing her back into title contention just two weeks after a heartbreaking runner-up finish at the Swiss Ladies Open. Meanwhile, home favourite and Solheim Cup star Leona Maguire delighted local galleries by ripping the course apart with nine birdies for a 63, surging into a tie for sixth at 11-under-par. Maguire’s and Arwefjall's scores will not stand as official course records due to preferred lies being in place. Maguire remains tied with Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist and Corinne Viden, who sit locked at 12-under-par heading into Sunday’s high-stakes finale.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India, will be staging the Telangana Golconda Masters 2026 at the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA) from September 1 to 4, 2026.

The tournament which will witness participation by 132 golfers is supported by Telangana Tourism, Hyderabad Golf Association.

The top Indian professionals in the fray include DP World PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar, Honey Baisoya, Veer Ahlawat, Rashid Khan, Akshay Sharma and Om Prakash Chouhan, to name a few.

The prominent foreign players in the field are defending champion Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh, Badal Hossain also from Bangladesh, Czech Republic’s Stepan Danek, Sri Lankans N Thangaraja and Mithun Perera, Nepal’s Subash Tamang, Uganda’s Joshua Seale and the Japanese duo of Koichiro Ishika and Taiga Tanaka.

The local challenge will be led by Hyderabad-based professionals Mohd Azhar, Vishesh Sharma and Rupinder Singh Gill.

The tournament is part of the Race to DP World India Championship which is a competition to crown the DP World PGTI’s number one player. This competition will also determine the top-24 players from the DP World PGTI Order of Merit who will earn their spots at the season-ending DP World India Championship.

Kapil Dev, president, DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), said, “We are extremely excited to return for the 12th edition of the Telangana Golconda Masters, an event that has established itself as one of the most eagerly-awaited tournaments on the DP World PGTI schedule. We are grateful to Telangana Tourism for its continued support and partnership in taking the tournament from strength to strength, and we thank the Hyderabad Golf Association for once again providing us with an excellent venue. The tournament will go a long way in promoting Telangana and the city of Hyderabad as a leading destination for golf tourism. With a strong field and great playing conditions provided by the HGA, we look forward to another exciting and closely-fought contest at the Telangana Golconda Masters.”

Jasvinder Singh Birgi, captain, Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA), said, “We are honored to host the 12th edition of the prestigious Telangana Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Association. It is a proud moment for us to welcome some of the country’s finest golfing talent to our course. This tournament is a great opportunity for our members to witness top-tier competition and it also showcases our magnificent golf course to a global audience through the Live Telecast. The players will compete to win the magnificent trophy depicting the historic Golconda Fort which was launched by HGA during the first edition of the event. We look forward to an exciting week of world-class golf.”

Promoted by the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation and the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA), the 212-acre expanse provides an 18-hole, 6017-yard, par-70 layout that also features a floodlit driving range, a pro shop, a golf fitting shop, and training & practice facilities. A modern clubhouse with dining hall, lounge, open deck, change rooms, and trained staff is also in place.

Source: IANS

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Noida, Aug 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian School Sports Organisation (ISSO), in partnership with the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), has launched a national competitive platform for school golfers with the successful conclusion of the inaugural ISSO Golf Championship at the Jaypee Wishtown Golf Course in Noida.

Held from August 24 to 27, the championship brought together young golfers representing cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Ooty, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, and Hyderabad. Players competed across six age-group categories in what marked the first edition of the national school golf event.

Devrat Singh Rajawat won the Boys U15 title, while Smyaan Gupta won the Boys U18 title. Anika Rangwala claimed the Girls U15 crown and Parnika Sharma topped the Girls U18 division.

Aaradhya Bhatnagar secured the Girls U12 title, while Atharv Goel completed the list of champions by winning the Boys U12 category.

The tournament was organised to address the lack of a structured national inter-school competition for young golfers in India, providing students with an opportunity to represent their schools and compete against players from across the country.

The championship followed a stroke-play format with a two-tee start, offering participants an environment that replicated the demands of competitive tournament golf.

PGTI CEO Amandeep Johl said the initiative could play an important role in creating opportunities for young players to develop within the sport. “Golf is a sport that teaches discipline, patience, focus and resilience, qualities that are important not just on the course but in every aspect of a young person’s life. The launch of ISSO Golf is an important step towards creating a structured platform where school golfers can compete, learn and grow. I am delighted to see young players from across India come together for this inaugural championship, and I hope this initiative encourages many more students to take up the sport and pursue it at higher levels.”

Aakanksha Thapak, Director of the International School Sports Organisation (ISSO), said the championship was intended to establish a longer-term pathway for young golfers across the country.

“ISSO Golf is more than the launch of a new tournament; it is the beginning of a structured journey for young golfers across India. Our aim is to create meaningful opportunities for students to compete at the national level, represent their schools and develop a deeper connection with the sport. We are delighted to see participation from young golfers across different cities in the inaugural edition, and we look forward to bringing more schools and students into this growing ecosystem in the years ahead,” he said.

For ISSO, the introduction of golf forms part of its wider effort to expand sporting opportunities for students and create competitive pathways in disciplines where structured school-level competitions have traditionally been limited.

The partnership with the PGTI brings professional expertise into the school sports ecosystem, with the initiative expected to develop beyond competition through training programmes, golf clinics and other development opportunities.

The inaugural event has laid the foundation for ISSO's plans to expand participation, bring more schools and cities into the competition and provide a stronger pathway for students interested in pursuing golf.

Winners

Boys U12: Atharv Goel – Winner; Shlok Pandit – Runner-up; Sharvin Patel – Second Runner-up

Girls U12: Aaradhya Bhatnagar – Winner; Ishana Bahl – Runner-up; Deehar Gulati – Second Runner-up

Boys U15: Devrat Singh Rajawat – Winner; Hridaan Saraogi – Runner-up; Rudransh Palawat – Second Runner-up

Girls U15: Anika Rangwala – Winner; Aadya Kaushal – Runner-up; Zoya Borkataky – Second Runner-up

Boys U18: Smyaan Gupta – Winner; Sohang Har Kantor – Runner-up; Ranvir Sidhu – Second Runner-up

Girls U18: Parnika Sharma – Winner; Vanya Sokhi – Runner-up; Devyana Jain – Second Runner-up

Source: IANS

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Vikarabad, Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashid Khan ended a seven-year wait for victory with a closing five-under 67, winning the Rs 1 crore Telangana Open 2026 by three strokes at Vooty Golf County in Vikarabad.

The 35-year-old Delhi golfer (66-67-65-67) finished at 23-under 265 to secure his 15th professional title and 11th victory on the DP World PGTI.

He collected Rs 15 lakh and moved up to sixth on the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit, taking his season earnings to Rs 44,95,509.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (72-65-66-65) produced the best final-round score among the leading contenders, making nine birdies and two bogeys in a seven-under 65. He finished runner-up at 20-under 268.

Baisoya, winner of the DP World Players Championship at Qutab Golf Course in February, earned Rs 10 lakh for his runner-up finish. He now occupies third place in the season rankings with total earnings of Rs 51,72,092.

Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat (68-68-68-65), the 2024 DP World PGTI Rankings champion, also closed with a 65 to share third place at 19-under 269 with overnight leader Angad Cheema (70-61-65-73).

Rashid’s previous DP World PGTI victory came at the PGTI Players Championship presented by Chandigarh Golf Club in May 2019. After enduring a difficult seven-year spell, the two-time Asian Tour winner and three-time PGTI Order of Merit champion described his return to the winner’s circle as an emotional moment.

“I can’t describe how I’m feeling right now,” said Rashid. “It has been seven years since my last win, and I struggled a lot with my game during that period. I went through many ups and downs, but I also learned a great deal. Once you come through a phase like that, you understand what you need to do.”

Rashid began the final round two shots behind Cheema and endured an inauspicious start with bogeys on the opening two holes. He responded emphatically, making three consecutive birdies from the third through the fifth before another birdie on the eighth put him in control.

“I got off to a really poor start,” Rashid said. “I made bogey on the opening par five, and the second was playing extremely tough—about 240 yards with a left-to-right wind.

“Even after starting bogey-bogey, I knew that if I stuck to my game plan and continued giving myself birdie opportunities, I could recover. The birdies on the third, fourth and fifth were important turning points.”

Cheema, meanwhile, made three bogeys on the front nine. The momentum shift allowed Rashid to take a three-shot advantage into the turn.

“The birdie on the eighth gave me a lead of two or three shots,” he said. “From there, my focus was simply to keep creating birdie chances. There were scoring opportunities on the back nine, and I started that stretch very well.”

Rashid tightened his grip on the tournament with three consecutive birdies from the 10th through the 12th. After making pars on the next two holes, he produced what he considered the decisive moment on the 15th.

“I had a 12- or 13-foot putt for par, while Angad was inside 10 feet for birdie,” Rashid said. “That proved to be the turning point.”

Cheema managed two birdies after the turn, but his one-over 73 dropped him into a share of third place, four strokes behind Rashid.

Windy conditions added to the challenge during the closing stretch, but Rashid remained composed. Despite the intensity of the title battle, he enjoyed sharing the final group with Cheema and Jairaj Singh Sandhu.

“I’ve known Angad and Jairaj for a long time, and we had a lot of fun out there,” he said.

Rashid also praised the condition of the course, calling the final tee shot a particularly stern test.

“The 17th was manageable, but the tee shot on the 18th was one of the toughest I have ever faced,” he said.

Current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (72-68-71-70), who spent the summer competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, finished tied 24th at seven-under 281.

Talwar earned Rs 1,14,450 to extend his advantage at the top of the rankings, taking his season earnings to Rs 87,47,684.

Source: IANS

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Sutton Coldfield (England), Aug 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian golfers Shubhankar Sharma and Yuvraj Sandhu were forced to wait for their opening rounds as persistent rain and storms severely disrupted the first day of the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry near Sutton Coldfield in the United Kingdom.

With play repeatedly suspended, neither Sharma nor Sandhu was able to tee off by the time darkness brought an early end to the weather-hit opening day. Several players in the field had also yet to begin their rounds.

Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin emerged as the early leader, reaching five-under through 13 holes before another storm forced the suspension of play.

McKibbin was among the first players out and initially made a quiet start, standing level par through his opening two holes when the second weather delay struck.

Once play resumed, the 23-year-old made his move with birdies at the par-five 15th and 17th before holing a lengthy putt for another gain at the 18th.

He then produced a superb approach on the first hole to set up another birdie and completed his strong stretch by picking up a shot at the par-five third.

Englishman Joe Dean and Spain's Nacho Elvira were one shot behind at four-under, although neither had completed 18 holes. Dean was through 13 holes, while Elvira had played 12.

South Africa's Dylan Frittelli, Italy's Francesco Laporta, Finland's Oliver Lindell, France's Antoine Rozner, Germany's Marcel Schneider and American Johannes Veerman were another shot back at three-under.

The opening day was badly affected from the outset. The first suspension came just two minutes after the opening tee shots, followed by only 94 minutes of play before flooded bunkers caused another stoppage lasting four hours and 10 minutes.

Source: IANS

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Vikarabad (Telangana), Aug 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Angad Cheema stayed on course for his fifth title on the PGTI Tour and sixth win overall after shooting a seven-under 65 to retain his two-shot lead following the third round of the INR 1 crore Telangana Open 2026, being played at Vooty Golf County at Vikarabad in Telangana on Thursday.

The 36-year-old Chandigarh lad Cheema (70-61-65), who began the Day Two shots ahead after producing a career-low 11-under 61 on Wednesday, moved to 20-under 196.

Delhi’s Rashid Khan (66-67-65) matched Cheema’s 65 while playing alongside the leader to remain second at 18-under 198. Rashid kept the pressure on throughout the day with eight birdies against a solitary bogey on the par-four 17th.

Cheema’s eventful round featured an eagle on the par-five 16th, eight birdies and three bogeys. With Rashid repeatedly closing the gap, Cheema responded with enough birdies of his own to preserve the overnight advantage.

“It was definitely an up-and-down day, especially on the back nine, but overall I played really well,” said Cheema. “Rashid was making a lot of birdies, so it was important for me to keep pace with him, and I thought I did that very well.”

The leader made four birdies over the front nine. He then added four more birdies and the crucial eagle on the 16th but also conceded three bogeys on the back nine.

On the 16th, Cheema struck his second shot with a six-iron to about five feet before converting the eagle putt. “I hit three really good shots to make the eagle,” he said. “I drove it well and then hit a six-iron to about five feet. Apparently, the ball came within an inch of going in, and I converted the putt.”

Despite two three-putts on the back nine, Cheema was encouraged by his work on the greens and the overall state of his game heading into the final round. “My putting was very good overall, apart from the two three-putts, which are never enjoyable,” he said. “My game is in great shape, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Jairaj Singh Sandhu (71-68-63) made the biggest move of the day, firing the tournament’s lowest third-round score of nine-under 63. He climbed 17 places from tied 20th to third at 14-under 202, six shots behind Cheema.

Delhi’s Honey Baisoya (72-65-66), currently seventh in the PGTI Rankings, shared fourth place at 13-under 203 with Greater Noida’s Arjun Sharma (70-66-67).

First-round co-leader Akshay Sharma (65-70-69) of Chandigarh was tied sixth at 12-under 204 alongside Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat (68-68-68), the 2024 PGTI Rankings champion.

Gurugram’s Manu Gandas (65-71-69), the other opening-round co-leader, shared eighth place at 11-under 205 with Nepal’s Subash Tamang (74-65-66), Uganda’s Joshua Seale (70-66-69) and Gurugram’s Dhruv Sheoran (68-67-70).

Cheema, a four-time winner on the PGTI Tour, has come close to adding another title twice this season. He finished tied second at the Boulders Classic in April and again at last week’s Kolar Open.

The Chandigarh golfer intends to keep his approach unchanged as he takes a two-shot advantage into the final round. “I’ll treat tomorrow as just another round of golf,” Cheema said. “I’m playing well, so I want to continue doing what I’ve been doing, focus on my own game and not get too far ahead of myself.”

Cheema also welcomed the introduction of the Race to DP World India Championship, which offers leading players on the Order of Merit an opportunity to qualify for the marquee event. “It is a great initiative and a big incentive for all the players,” he said. “The chance to compete in the DP World India Championship alongside some of the biggest names in golf would be a huge achievement.

“It has added a lot of excitement because everyone is checking the Order of Merit each week to see whether they are inside the qualifying positions. It gives us something significant to play for throughout the season.”

Current PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (72-68-71), who spent the summer competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, was tied 29th at five-under 211.

The Race to India Championship is a competition to crown the PGTI Tour's number one player, and this competition will also determine the top-24 players from the PGTI Order of Merit who will earn their spots at the season-ending India Championship.

Source: IANS

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Vikarabad (Telangana), Aug 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Angad Cheema produced a career-low, bogey-free 11-under 61 to take a two-shot lead at 13-under 131 after the second round of the INR 1 crore Telangana Open 2026, being played at the Vooty Golf County.

Chandigarh-based Cheema (70-61) delivered a remarkable round with preferred lies in effect following rain at the venue. Cheema opened with a birdie on the first and then made five in succession from the third through the seventh to race to six-under through seven holes. After four consecutive pars, he chipped in for eagle on the par-five 12th to regain momentum before adding three more birdies.

Delhi’s Rashid Khan (66-67), who began the day tied third and one shot behind overnight co-leaders Manu Gandas and Akshay Sharma, returned a five-under 67 to move into second place at 11-under 133.

Cheema, a four-time winner on the DP World PGTI who finished runner-up at last week’s Kolar Open, was delighted to improve on his previous best score of 10-under. “An 11-under round is definitely the lowest score I have ever shot,” said Cheema. “I’m not sure which performance I would rate higher, but today was an exceptional round. I was six-under through seven holes, so at that stage I felt an even lower score might be possible.”

The four consecutive pars from the eighth through the 11th briefly slowed his charge, but the chip-in eagle on the 12th provided the spark for another scoring run. “The chip-in gave the round fresh momentum and got me going again on the back nine,” Cheema said. “I struck the ball extremely well, holed a lot of putts and missed only one fairway all day.”

Cheema believes accuracy from the tee will remain crucial over the weekend, with thick rough and wind presenting the main challenges. “The rough is very punishing, but the greens are receptive,” he said. “If you find the fairway, you have a good chance to attack the pins. There are also several holes where you need to play smart.”

Rashid’s eventful round featured eagles on the par-four third and par-five fifth. He converted from about 20 feet on the third before striking a three-wood to eight feet and holing the putt on the fifth. "Those two eagles gave the round a lot of momentum,” said Rashid. “On the third, I hit my approach to about 20 feet and made the putt. On the fifth, I hit a three-wood to around eight feet and converted that as well.”

Despite the two eagles, Rashid felt his score could have been lower after missing several chances and three-putting the sixth and ninth. He later birdied the 12th, 15th and 16th, with his longest birdie conversion coming from around 12 feet on the 15th, before dropping a shot on the 17th.

“I missed quite a few putts, so the score could have been even better,” he said. “But my game is improving with each round. I’m not trying to force anything. I’m responding to the situation, playing the shot that is required and keeping things straightforward.”

Hyderabad’s 19-year-old Vishesh Sharma (66-68), who recently returned to competition following a two-week illness, occupied third place at 10-under 134. His four-under 68 included an eagle on the par-five third, four birdies and two bogeys.

Overnight co-leader Akshay Sharma (65-70) of Chandigarh shared fourth place at nine-under 135 with Gurugram’s Dhruv Sheoran (68-67) and Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera (70-65).

Perera, who returned from retirement to compete again this season, produced a bogey-free 65 featuring seven birdies. The other first-round co-leader, Manu Gandas (65-71), slipped into a five-way tie for seventh at eight-under 136.

Current PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (72-68) was tied 23rd at four-under 140. The cut fell at one-under 143, with 50 players from the field of 131 advancing to the final two rounds.

Source: IANS

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Atlanta, Aug 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Akshay Bhatia will carry India’s hopes into the season-ending Tour Championship as the PGA Tour’s top 30 players converge on East Lake Golf Club for the final event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, with the Indian-American looking to cap an impressive campaign on a high.

Bhatia secured his place in the elite 30-man field after finishing tied for 12th at the BMW Championship in St. Louis. His consistent play through the playoffs kept him inside the qualification zone and earned him a place in the season finale for the first time. The Tour Championship will be played from August 27 to 30, with a $40 million prize purse at stake.

The 24-year-old, who is supported by Hero, has already established himself as one of the most exciting young players on the PGA Tour. With three career victories, Bhatia has shown an ability to contend against the strongest fields, while his left-handed swing, quality iron play, and putting make him a dangerous player over four rounds.

The biggest spotlight, however, will be on World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy. Scheffler arrives as the leading FedEx Cup player and the clear favourite to claim the season-long title. The 2026 standings show Scheffler well clear at the top, with his sustained consistency once again making him the man to beat.

McIlroy, meanwhile, enters the finale after an eventful BMW Championship in which he challenged Wyndham Clark deep into the final round. The Northern Irishman finished runner-up as Clark held on for victory, but McIlroy's performance strengthened his position among the leading contenders for the FedEx Cup.

Clark will arrive at East Lake with perhaps the strongest momentum of the entire field. The 2023 US Open champion produced a commanding performance at Bellerive Country Club, winning the BMW Championship after successive six-under 64s helped establish control of the tournament. The victory earned him 750 FedExCup points and propelled him sharply up the standings heading into Atlanta.

The battle between Scheffler, McIlroy and Clark will be among the central storylines of the week, but Bhatia's presence adds an intriguing dimension for Indian golf fans. His progression into the final 30 represents another significant milestone in a career that has moved rapidly since he turned professional.

East Lake will demand precision and patience, with the pressure of the FedEx Cup finale magnifying every shot. Bhatia's ability to remain composed and convert opportunities on the greens could be crucial if he is to challenge the leaders.

The season finale will also provide a final opportunity for the 30 qualifiers to finish the year with the biggest statement of their campaigns. The Tour Championship carries a $10 million prize for the winner, while the overall FedEx Cup champion will take home the season's ultimate prize.

For Bhatia, the objective is clear: compete with the game's biggest names, gain experience on one of the PGA Tour's biggest stages and finish his breakthrough season among the world's elite. With Scheffler seeking another FedEx Cup crown, McIlroy chasing another season-ending triumph and Clark arriving fresh from victory, East Lake promises a compelling finale.

Source: IANS

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Kildare, Aug 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Diksha Dagar will lead the Indian team at the 2026 Women’s Irish Open, starting on Thursday at The K Club’s Palmer South Course in County Kildare, Ireland.

The tournament, marking its 20th edition, has drawn a robust international lineup, featuring over 129 players from 34 countries vying for a €450,000 prize pool. This year, the event holds particular importance for the host nation, with a record 16 Irish players, nine professionals and seven amateurs, participating.

For India, Dagar will be a focal point, as she is a two-time LET winner and one of the most consistent players from the country on the European circuit.

Dagar has achieved five Top-10 finishes and four additional Top-20 placements, currently ranking 11th on the Order of Merit. Her precision, strategic play, and dependable short game may be especially beneficial on the challenging Palmer South course, where wind could introduce extra difficulty.

Dagar will be accompanied by Pranavi Urs, Avani Prashanth, and Tvesa Malik, offering India a mix of seasoned experience and up-and-coming talent.

Pranavi arrives in Kildare after being the only Indian to qualify for the Swiss Ladies Open two weeks ago, where she finished tied for 38th. The golfer from Mysuru has had a consistent season, making 12 cuts in 17 events and currently ranks 46th in the LET season standings. She aims to leverage this consistency and secure a strong finish this week.

Teenager Avani Prashanth brings additional excitement to the Indian team. The 18-year-old newcomer secured her full LET card earlier this season and is returning to competition after taking a break in India, skipping the Swiss event.

Prashanth has demonstrated her ability to compete at this level, finishing tied for third place with Dagar at the Dutch Ladies Open. She also placed T-5 at the Jabra Ladies.

Tvesa Malik completes India's four-player lineup. The seasoned player aims to regain her best form after missing the cut in Switzerland. Nonetheless, Malik has shown she can compete on the LET this season, securing a tie for fifth at the Jabra Ladies Open.

The Palmer South Course is designed to challenge all facets of the players' games, featuring strategic hazards, difficult approaches, and potentially strong winds that emphasise precision and course management. With 16 Irish players aiming for a historic home win and a competitive international field, the Women’s Irish Open is set to be an exciting event.

Although Irish women’s golf is gaining strength, the tournament has yet to see a home winner. Solheim Cup star and World No. 82 Leona Maguire will spearhead Ireland’s effort to break that streak. Maguire is the only Irish player to have won on the Ladies European Tour (LET), securing the individual title at the 2024 Team Series – London.

Source: IANS

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Vikarabad (Telangana), Aug 25 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chandigarh’s Akshay Sharma and Gurugram’s Manu Gandas carded matching seven-under 65s to share a one-shot clubhouse lead after the opening day of the Telangana Open 2026, being played at the Vooty Golf County in Vikarabad, Telangana.

Paired together on Tuesday, the two experienced campaigners reached the top of the leaderboard in contrasting fashion.

Akshay made a flying start with four consecutive birdies from the first through the fourth. A bogey on the par-five fifth briefly halted his momentum, but he responded with four more birdies to complete an impressive opening round.

Manu Gandas, on the other hand, made two birdies and a bogey on the front nine and then had a late flourish with an eagle and four birdies on the back nine. The Hyderabad-based 19-year-old Vishesh Sharma and Delhi’s Rashid Khan shared third place at six-under 66, one shot behind the leaders.

Vishesh produced a bogey-free round featuring six birdies on his return to competition. He had been sidelined by illness for a couple of weeks after missing the cut at the J&K Open three weeks ago.

Rashid put together an eventful 66 featuring an eagle on the par-four third, six birdies and two bogeys. Noida’s Lakshya Nagar also kept a clean card, making five birdies in a bogey-free five-under 67 to occupy fifth place.

Akshay, 36, credited his putting with helping him take advantage of the soft, receptive greens. “I’m feeling great and am very happy with the way I played,” said Akshay. “I struck the ball well, but the biggest difference was my putting. I holed several long putts, which helped me build the round.”

Akshay, a three-time winner on the DP World PGTI, is currently third in the season rankings. His most recent victory came at the DP World Players Championship at Classic Golf & Country Club in Gurugram in April.

“The greens are soft and rolling true, so the plan was straightforward,” he said. “I wanted to find the fairways and give myself as many opportunities as possible by hitting the greens in regulation. I’ll follow the same approach tomorrow and give it my best.”

Gandas overcame a slow start to join his playing partner at the top. His round featured six birdies, an eagle on the par-five 12th and a lone bogey on the par-four sixth. “I didn’t start particularly well, but I found my rhythm and played a strong second half,” said Gandas. “Hopefully, I can carry that momentum through the rest of the week.”

The 30-year-old did not hit his best drive on the 12th but recovered with an excellent second shot before converting the eagle putt. “My drive wasn’t ideal, but I followed it with a good approach and then holed an excellent putt,” he said.

Gandas, a nine-time winner on the DP World PGTI and the 2022 Order of Merit champion, is currently 18th in the standings. He plans to retain the same approach over the next three rounds. “I’ll stay committed to what I’m doing and see where it takes me,” he added.

PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar returned an even-par 72 to finish the day tied 43rd. Hyderabad’s Mohd Azhar, who secured his maiden professional title at last week’s Kolar Open, carded a one-over 73 and was tied 51st.

The opening round was suspended due to fading light, with 27 players out of a total of 132 still on the course. Play will resume on Wednesday at 6:45 am local time, when the remaining players will complete their rounds.

Source: IANS

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Aberdeen (Scotland), Aug 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shubhankar Sharma signed off with an even-par 72 to finish tied 46th at the 2026 Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Sharma's final round featured three birdies and three bogeys as he completed the tournament at four-over 292. His four rounds were 73-72-75-72. Fellow Indian Yuvraj Sandhu missed the cut earlier in the week.

Scotland's Scott Jamieson claimed his second DP World Tour title with a superb final-round 67, finishing at 11-under par and two shots clear of England's Matthew Jordan.

The 42-year-old made it a consecutive Scottish victory at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, following Grant Forrest's success at the venue last year.

Jamieson began the final round three shots behind overnight leader Shaun Norris but quickly erased the deficit with three birdies on the front nine. Norris was subsequently handed a two-stroke penalty for breaching Rule 8.1, which relates to actions that improve conditions affecting a stroke, allowing Jamieson to take the outright lead around the turn.

The Scot strengthened his position with two more birdies at the start of the back nine. After dropping a shot at the 13th, he immediately responded with a birdie on the 14th to restore his advantage.

Jordan's bogey at the 17th further extended Jamieson's lead to three shots, and a closing par secured an emotional victory on home soil.

The victory came 5,005 days after Jamieson's maiden DP World Tour title at the 2012 Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS HANDA. It also lifted him from 135th to 42nd in the Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World and secured his DP World Tour playing rights for another two years.

Jordan finished runner-up at nine-under par after making a birdie at the final hole, while South Africa's Norris finished third at seven-under.

England's Andy Sullivan, Spain's Quim Vidal and Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti shared fourth place at six-under.

Richard Mansell produced the round of the day, firing a seven-under 65 to set a new course record at Trump International Golf Links. His effort earned him the $10,000 Nexo Course Record prize and helped him finish tied seventh.

Source: IANS

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St. Louis, Aug 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Akshay Bhatia produced a spectacular eagle-birdie finish to close with a two-under 68 and tie for 12th at the 2026 BMW Championship, securing his place in the season-ending Tour Championship and retaining 15th position in the FedEx Cup standings.

Bhatia, who started the BMW Championship 15th in the FedEx Cup rankings, finished comfortably inside the top 30, becoming the only one of the three Indian-origin players in the field to qualify for the Tour Championship. The season finale features the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings.

The Indian-origin star made three birdies and an eagle against three bogeys in his final round, saving his best for the finish with an eagle followed by a birdie.

Aaron Rai also ended his campaign with a two-under 68, making four birdies and two bogeys to finish tied 16th. However, the result was not enough to secure a top-30 spot as Rai slipped two places to 39th in the FedExCup standings.

Sahith Theegala closed with a one-under 69 and finished tied 41st. He dropped to 48th in the FedExCup standings and therefore missed out on the TOUR Championship.

At the top, Wyndham Clark completed a wire-to-wire triumph, closing with a 17-under total to win the BMW Championship by three shots. The 32-year-old claimed his sixth PGA Tour title and third victory of the 2026 season, adding the BMW Championship to his earlier triumphs at the CJ Cup, Byron Nelson and U.S. Open.

Clark became the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2016 to win both the U.S. Open and BMW Championship in the same season. The victory also lifted him to third in the FedExCup standings and secured his third Tour Championship appearance.

Clark had held at least a share of the lead after every round and started the final day five shots clear of Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay. He finished emphatically with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18, repeating the closing sequence he produced in the opening round.

Cantlay finished runner-up, three shots behind Clark, while McIlroy was third. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler tied for 12th alongside Bhatia and continued his remarkable consistency, recording his 18th top-25 finish in 19 starts this season.

Gary Woodland's tied-fourth finish had major implications for the FedExCup standings. He surged from 31st to 18th and earned his first TOUR Championship berth since 2019. Cantlay climbed from 43rd to 19th, while Robert MacIntyre moved from 36th to 25th.

Kurt Kitayama, Rickie Fowler and Bud Cauley were the three notable players to fall out of the top 30 and miss the season finale.

Scheffler will once again start the Tour Championship as the No. 1 seed, extending his run of five consecutive years at the top of the FedExCup standings. Tommy Fleetwood enters the finale ninth as he bids to become the first player to win the FedExCup in consecutive seasons.

McIlroy extended his streak of Tour Championship appearances to nine, while Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland each qualified for the seventh consecutive year.

Two rookies, Kristoffer Reitan and Alex Fitzpatrick, also earned places in the season finale. Ryan Gerard, Min Woo Lee, Alex Smalley and Ryan Fox will make their Tour Championship debuts alongside Reitan and Fitzpatrick.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has introduced a new season-long race that will determine the leading performers of the 2026 campaign and add greater significance to the India Championship, with the season finale set to decide the Order of Merit champion for the first time.

The ‘Race to DP World India Championship’, announced jointly by the PGTI and DP World on Monday, will culminate at the $4 million India Championship at Delhi Golf Club from October 15 to 18.

Under the revamped structure, the PGTI Order of Merit champion will be crowned only after the season-ending championship, rather than at the conclusion of the tour’s final event before the year-end break. The change is aimed at making the Delhi tournament a decisive part of the season while bringing the domestic circuit closer in line with the international calendar.

The race will comprise nine tournaments offering a combined prize purse of Rs 10 crore. Three events — the J&K Open, Coal India Open and Kolar Open — have already been completed, with the remaining six tournaments scheduled between August 25 and October 3.

The race will conclude with the inaugural Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship at Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida from September 30 to October 3.

The event will also determine two key milestones for the players. The top 24 on the Race standings after the Greater Noida tournament will qualify for the season-ending championship, while the top 60 in the PGTI Order of Merit will retain their playing rights for the 2027 season.

The Order of Merit champion will be formally crowned during the prize presentation at Delhi Golf Club after the championship.

The revised structure also brings forward the conclusion of the PGTI season to October, replacing the previous calendar that extended into December. Officials believe the closer alignment with the DP World Tour calendar could provide a more seamless transition for the domestic circuit’s leading players.

The change is particularly significant for the Order of Merit champion, who will gain exempt status on the DP World Tour. With the two calendars now more closely synchronised, the leading Indian player could potentially take advantage of international playing opportunities soon after earning the exemption.

Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager Subcontinent (India), DP World, said the initiative was designed to strengthen the pathway for Indian golfers to compete internationally.

“At DP World, we are committed to strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem and creating meaningful pathways for homegrown talent to compete on the global stage. The Race to the DP World India Championship, in partnership with DP World PGTI, reflects that ambition by giving India’s leading golfers the opportunity to earn their place alongside some of the world’s best. India is one of DP World’s most important markets, and we are proud to play a role in growing the game and supporting the next generation of sporting talent. We look forward to welcoming India’s finest golfers to Delhi Golf Club this October for the DP World India Championship, where they will have the opportunity to test themselves against a world-class field.”

Kapil Dev, president of the PGTI, said the new format would add another layer of competition to the domestic season while improving the route for Indian players to move onto the global stage.

“The Race to DP World India Championship is a great initiative and reflects our shared vision with DP World of strengthening the pathway from Indian golf to the global stage. The Race introduces a fascinating season-long contest which will reward consistency, raise the competitive standard throughout the season and further enhance the significance of the DP World India Championship. Aligning our season with the DP World Tour creates greater opportunities for our leading players to make an immediate impact internationally. I wish the players all the best for the Race to DP World India Championship.”

The remaining tournaments in the race will begin with the Telangana Open at Vooty Golf County in Vikarabad from August 25 to 28, followed by the Golconda Masters in Hyderabad from September 1 to 4 and the Chennai Open from September 8 to 11.

The Nava Raipur Open will follow from September 15 to 18 before the Bengaluru Open from September 22 to 25 brings the tour closer to the concluding event in Greater Noida.

The Golconda Masters will be staged for the 12th time, while the Chennai Open and Bengaluru Open will return for their fifth editions. The Nava Raipur Open and Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship are new additions to the schedule.

The season will then culminate at Delhi Golf Club, where the leading 24 players from the race will compete for the $4 million prize purse and the Order of Merit title. A Pro-Am will be held at the venue the following day, followed by an evening prize presentation to honour the PGTI Order of Merit champion and the Emerging Player of the Year.

The conclusion of the Delhi championship will immediately usher in the next PGTI season and the 2027 edition of the Race to India Championship.

Source: IANS

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St. Louis, Aug 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Akshay Bhatia stayed in the Top-15 after a steady even-par 70 in the third round of the BMW Championship, while fellow Hero-supported Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai are sure to exit the FedEx Cup Play-offs.

Bhatia, who made two birdies and two bogeys at Bellerive Country Club, is tied 15th on the leaderboard and projected to remain 15th in the FedExCup standings. Only the top 30 after the BMW Championship will advance to the season-ending TOUR Championship in Atlanta.

Rai carded a four-under 67 to move to tied 23rd, but is projected to drop to 39th in the FedExCup standings. Theegala shot a three-under 68 and is tied 45th, with his projected standing at 49th. Both have almost no chance to break into the top 30.

Bhatia is currently the only one of the three projected to make it through to Atlanta.

At the top of the leaderboard, Wyndham Clark recovered spectacularly from an opening-hole double bogey to take a commanding five-shot lead into the final round.

The defending U.S. Open champion responded to his early setback with five birdies and an eagle during an eight-hole stretch, closing with a five-under 65. He is now in position to claim his third victory of the season.

Clark had been bogey-free over the opening 36 holes before trouble struck on the first. His tee shot found thick rough, his second also missed the fairway, and he subsequently came up short of the green before missing a seven-foot putt for double bogey.

He quickly turned things around, however, making birdie on the seventh before producing the highlight of his round at the par-five eighth, where he hit a five-wood to 12 feet and converted for eagle. He added a 30-foot birdie putt on the 10th and further birdies at the 11th, 13th and 14th to surge clear.

Rory McIlroy shot a 65 and Patrick Cantlay a 66 to share second place. McIlroy closed with three successive birdies before making a crucial par save from a bunker on the 18th. He remains five shots behind Clark but believes another low round could give him a chance on Sunday.

Gary Woodland, chasing a return to the TOUR Championship, carded a 70 and is tied fourth with Chris Gotterup, six shots off the pace.

Scottie Scheffler shot 68 to join Justin Thomas, who carded a 71, in a tie for 15th. Sungjae Im remains seventh after a 70 and will need another solid performance to maintain his remarkable streak of qualifying for the TOUR Championship every season since his 2019 rookie campaign.

Sunday will also settle the six automatic qualification spots for the U.S. Presidents Cup team. Clark appears well positioned to qualify, while Ben Griffin’s 68 left him tied 35th and put his hopes of an automatic spot under pressure.

Source: IANS

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Overland Park (USA), Aug 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rayhan Thomas and Mahanth Chirravuri are in the Top-5 at the AdventHealth Championship, with the Indian and Indian-American, respectively, sharing fifth place after 54 holes on the Korn Ferry Tour in Kansas.

Both are at 18-under 198, five shots behind Japan’s Yuta Sugiura, who surged into the lead with a course-record-equalling eight-under 64. With one round remaining, Thomas and Chirravuri have put themselves in position to challenge for their best-ever finishes on the developmental circuit.

Thomas followed his opening two rounds with a one-under 69, making five birdies and two bogeys. The Dubai-born Indian has been one of the most consistent players in the field this week and enters the final round just five shots off the pace.

Chirravuri, meanwhile, produced one of the most spectacular rounds of the tournament. Starting from the 10th tee, the Indian-American made nine birdies on his way to an eight-under 64. A bogey on his final hole prevented him from going even lower, but the round matched his career-low score.

The performance has put Chirravuri in position to challenge for his first top-10 finish in only his 10th Korn Ferry Tour start. His previous best was a tie for 19th at the Pinnacle Bank Championship.

Julian Suri also climbed the leaderboard with a six-under 66 and is tied 39th at 15-under 201.

Sugiura took control at the top with a bogey-free 64 to reach 22-under 194. The 22-year-old Japanese has now established the first 54-hole lead of his Korn Ferry Tour career as he chases his maiden title.

Sugiura began the week with a career-best 10-under 62 and is bidding to become only the third Japanese winner on the Korn Ferry Tour. He earned his 2026 card through PGA TOUR Q-School after progressing through First and Second Stage and finishing tied 29th at Final Stage.

John Marshall Butler is second at 21-under after another bogey-free round, while Korn Ferry Tour winner Zack Fischer is third at 19-under following a bogey-free 64. Petr Hruby joins Thomas and Chirravuri in fifth at 18-under.

The final round will also be important for players seeking to secure their places in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. The top 156 players on the Points List following the AdventHealth Championship qualify for the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, the first of four Finals events.

Source: IANS

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Aberdeen (UK), Aug 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shubhankar Sharma slipped down the leaderboard in the third round of the Nexo Championship after carding a three-over 75 at Trump International Golf Links, leaving him tied 41st heading into the final round.

Sharma, who had ended a run of four consecutive missed cuts by making the weekend in Scotland, endured a disappointing outing on Saturday. He managed just two birdies against five bogeys to drop down the standings after beginning the day in contention for a higher finish.

Earlier, the other Indian in the field, Yuvraj Sandhu, had missed the cut.

At the top, South Africa’s Shaun Norris moved into a commanding position to claim his third DP World Tour title after equalling the course record with a nine-under 66.

Norris, who began the third round one shot behind playing partner Matthew Southgate, produced a brilliant display to reach nine-under for the tournament and take a two-shot lead into Sunday.

The 44-year-old got off to a fast start with a birdie before producing the highlight of his round at the par-five fourth, holing out with his second shot for an albatross — the fifth of his career.

Norris added further birdies at the seventh and 14th before dropping a shot at the par-four 15th. He recovered immediately, however, with a birdie on the 17th before making par at the last to close with a 66.

The South African, whose most recent victory came at the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship, moved to nine-under for the week and two shots clear of the field.

England’s Matthew Jordan emerged as his closest challenger after a five-under 68. Jordan recovered from an opening bogey by picking up five shots during his round, including two birdies on the closing holes, to reach seven-under.

The 30-year-old is seeking his maiden DP World Tour title after finishing runner-up at last week’s Danish Golf Championship.

Scotland’s Scott Jamieson remained firmly in the hunt after a three-under 69. The home favourite made four birdies against one bogey to move to six-under, three shots behind Norris.

Jamieson will be chasing his second DP World Tour victory and first since 2012.

Southgate and Japan’s Keita Nakajima share fourth place at five-under, four shots behind the leader. Australia’s Connor McKinney, England’s Andy Sullivan and Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith are next at three-under.

Source: IANS

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Pune, Aug 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Olympian Udayan Mane, two-time IGPL-leg champion Aman Raj, Aadil Bedi and Tushar Pannu conducted a clinic for junior golfers and club members to kick-start a Caddie Welfare Golf Championship 2026 at The Poona Club Golf Course on Sunday,

The clinic was organised by ATRI Mumbai Garudas GC, currently the No. 1 ranked team in the IGPL League. The clinic served as the curtain-raiser to a championship built around giving back to the caddies who carry the game.

The session was led by two-time IGPL champion Aman Raj and Olympian Udayan Mane, joined by Asian Tour professional Aadil Bedi and breakout talent Tushar Pannu. The four professionals worked with junior golfers and club members on technique, course management and the fundamentals of tournament play, while team owners Rishabh Kishore and Smruti Kishore interacted with young players and their families.

The clinic was followed by a press conference unveiling the Caddie Welfare Golf Championship 2026, with all four professionals available to the media alongside team owners Rishabh Kishore and Smruti Kishore, who spoke about the purpose behind the initiative.

The main event took place on Sunday, with 200 golfers competing in a team scramble format featuring three amateurs and one professional per team, completed by a single handicapper or caddy pro. Every player teed off in support of the caddies who work the course.

Explaining the team’s commitment, Rishabh Kishore, Co-Owner, ATRI Mumbai Garudas GC, said, "Our caddies carry more than our bags; they carry the game itself, often without recognition. Partnering with The Poona Club is our way of putting belief into action, with all four of our players on the ground. Together with our partners, our goal is to build this into a sustainable annual platform where the golfing community can give back to those who give so much to the game."

Placing the initiative within the league’s wider ambitions, Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, IGPL, added, "Initiatives like the Caddie Welfare Golf Championship reflect exactly what we want the IGPL ecosystem to stand for: professional golf that lifts the entire community around it. Having ATRI Mumbai Garudas GC front this cause alongside The Poona Club sends a strong message about the values our league represents."

The Caddie Welfare Golf Championship 2026 aims to empower local caddies through professional coaching and a 200-player scramble tournament, while establishing an annual platform that honours their crucial role in the sport.

Source: IANS

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St. Louis, Aug 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Wyndham Clark continued his impressive run at Bellerive Country Club, firing a second straight six-under 64 to take a one-shot lead at 12-under 128 after 36 holes of the BMW Championship in St. Louis.

Gary Woodland, backed by strong local support, moved into second place at 11-under 129 after a 65, while J.J. Spaun was another stroke behind at 10-under following a 66 on his 36th birthday.

Among the players of Indian interest, Akshay Bhatia, supported by Hero, remained comfortably best placed and is the only one assured of a place in next week's Tour Championship at this stage. The Indian-American followed his opening 67 with a two-under 68 and is five-under 135, tied 16th. He had four birdies against two bogeys in his second round and is 15th in the FedExCup standings.

Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai, the reigning PGA Champion, was tied 34th at one-under 139 after rounds of 68 and 71, while fellow Indian-origin player Sahith Theegala, also backed by Hero, was tied 48th at three-over 143 following rounds of 71 and 72. Rai is currently tied 40th in the FedExCup standings, with Theegala 49th.

With only the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings advancing to the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake, Rai and Theegala face a difficult task. Their current positions in the BMW Championship have put them in danger of dropping outside the qualification places, while Bhatia's 15th position in the standings is sure to secure his place in Atlanta.

Bhatia's 67-68 start has also kept him in contention for a strong finish at Bellerive. His five-under total has placed him inside the top 20 and allows him to climb further up the leaderboard over the final 36 holes.

At the top, Clark has looked remarkably comfortable through two rounds. The two-time U.S. Open champion has remained bogey-free and reached 12-under 128. His only significant test came Thursday when he needed an 18-foot putt to save par on the 10th hole. Clark also arrived at Bellerive with considerable momentum after tying for fifth in last week's FedEx Cup Playoffs opener at TPC Southwind.

Woodland's second-round 65 was highlighted by a spectacular finish. He birdied his final two holes, hitting a 2-iron into the 608-yard 17th before putting his wedge to eight feet on the 18th. His 11-under total leaves him just one shot behind Clark.

Woodland is also feeding off the support of fans in Missouri, having grown up less than four hours away in Kansas. His bid to move from No. 31 into the top 30 has added another layer of significance to his impressive performance.

His resurgence is particularly notable given the health challenges he has faced since undergoing brain surgery in 2023. Woodland admitted to feeling tired after his round and said he needs to focus on recovery rather than looking too far ahead as he attempts to reach the Tour Championship for the first time in six years.

Spaun's 66 took him to 10-under 130, while Sungjae Im surged with a 64 to reach seven-under. Im, No. 40 in the FedEx Cup standings, is trying to extend his streak of reaching the Tour Championship every season since joining the PGA Tour in 2019. Patrick Cantlay and Rocket Classic winner Michael Thorbjornsen were another two shots back at eight-under 132.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler recovered from his opening 72 with a 65 but remains nine shots behind Clark. Scheffler is already assured of the $23 million bonus for leading the FedEx Cup standings into East Lake, while Rory McIlroy was five shots off the lead after a 69.

With two rounds remaining, Clark has established a clear advantage at the top, while the battle for the final Tour Championship places promises to provide the weekend's biggest drama. For the Indian-origin contingent, Bhatia has secured his place in Atlanta, but Rai and Theegala will need a major weekend turnaround to join him.

Source: IANS

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Kansas City, Aug 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dubai-born Indian Rayhan Thomas produced another spectacular round at the AdventHealth Championship, following his opening 64 with a seven-under 65 to move into a share of the halfway lead at 15-under 129.

Thomas shared record-equalling seven-way tie at the top alongside Taylor Dickson, Joseph Bramlett, Davis Shore, John Marshall Butler, Chris Francoeur and first-round leader Andrew Kozan.

The seven-way tie matches the Korn Ferry Tour record for the most players sharing the lead after 36 holes, previously achieved at the 2021 Albertsons Boise Open and the 119th Visa Argentina Open.

Thomas began his second round on the 10th tee and made an immediate impact with back-to-back birdies. He dropped a shot at the 12th before producing the first of his two eagles at the par-five 13th. After two pars, he bogeyed the 16th but responded with birdies on the next two holes to turn in strong fashion.

On his second nine, Thomas dropped another shot at the second but quickly recovered with a birdie on the third. He then caught fire, making three consecutive birdies from the fifth through seventh holes. His round featured eight birdies and an eagle against three bogeys, taking him to 15-under for the tournament and into the first lead or co-lead of his Korn Ferry Tour career.

Thomas, a former Oklahoma State player, is making his 45th Korn Ferry Tour start. He has recorded three top-25 finishes this season, highlighted by a tied-third finish at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. He currently stands No. 68 on the 2026 Points List.

The Dubai-born golfer earned Korn Ferry Tour membership for the 2025 season after successfully advancing through all three stages of PGA Tour Q-School. He finished No. 88 on the 2025 Points List and began the current campaign with conditional status before improving his position through another successful Q-School campaign.

Three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner Dickson matched Thomas at 15-under with a bogey-free eight-under 64. The 2026 Bahamas Great Golf Classic winner is currently No. 13 on the Points List and has added two more top-10 finishes this season.

Shore produced one of the day's standout rounds among the leaders, firing a bogey-free nine-under 63 to reach 15-under. He heads into the weekend with confidence after finishing runner-up at last week's Albertsons Boise Open.

John Marshall Butler posted the lowest round of the second day, a bogey-free 10-under 62, to surge into the lead. Bramlett also made a dramatic move, closing with birdies on four of his final five holes for a seven-under 65. The veteran spent six consecutive seasons on the PGA TOUR from 2019 through 2025 and is now in his best position after 36 holes on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Francoeur matched Bramlett's 65 to join the leaders, while Kozan, who stunned the field with a 12-under 60 in the opening round, followed with a three-under 69. He remained at 15-under and secured his first 36-hole lead or co-lead in his 100th Korn Ferry Tour start.

The halfway cut fell at eight-under 136, making it the second-lowest 36-hole cut relative to par in Korn Ferry Tour history.

With 36 holes still to play, Thomas will now look to convert his breakthrough halfway position into his first Korn Ferry Tour victory. The AdventHealth Championship also carries significance for the wider season, with the top 156 players on the Points List after the event qualifying for the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, the first of four season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Finals events.

Source: IANS

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Aberdeenshire (Scotland), Aug 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of four missed cuts as he made the weekend rounds at the Nexo Championship. He produced the shot of the day with a spectacular hole-in-one on the sixth hole during an even-par second round.

Sharma, who opened with a 73 on Thursday, followed it with a 72 to reach one-over 145 after 36 holes and was T-22 and comfortably made the weekend rounds at Trump International Golf Links.

The other Indian in the field Yuvraj Sandhu (75-79) missed the cut.

Starting his second round from the first tee, Sharma opened with a birdie before dropping a shot at the fifth. He then delivered the highlight of his round at the par-three sixth, holing his tee shot for a sensational ace.

The Indian subsequently picked up birdies at the 12th and 13th, but his progress was checked by bogeys at the ninth, 11th, 15th and 16th. He eventually signed for a level-par 72.

The ace was particularly significant for Sharma, who has endured a difficult stretch on the DP World Tour. The weekend appearance gives the two-time DP World Tour winner an opportunity to build momentum and climb the leaderboard over the final 36 holes.

At the top, England's Matthew Southgate took a one-stroke lead into the weekend after a second straight two-under 70 moved him to four-under for the tournament.

Southgate, who started the day three shots off the lead, negotiated the testing and windy conditions in Aberdeenshire with a disciplined round. He made a birdie at the 17th before dropping his only shot of the day at the sixth. A chip-in eagle at the seventh provided the decisive moment and lifted him into outright first.

Matthew Jordan, who finished runner-up in Denmark last week, carded a three-under 69 to share second place at three-under with South African Shaun Norris, who also shot 69.

Also tied second were Scotland's Scott Jamieson and overnight leader Marcus Kinhult.

Source: IANS

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Kansas City, Aug 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Rayhan Thomas got off to an impressive start with an 8-under 64 that put him in a share of fifth place at the AdventHealth Championship on the Korn Ferry. Indian-origin player Mahanth Chirravuri was alone in fourth at 9-under 63.

Chirravuri, who finished No. 8 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2026, recorded a career-best round without dropping a shot and it included a five birdie streak from the third and also had an eagle on the 13th.

Thomas, meanwhile, carded a bogey-free 64 to sit at 8-under, six shots behind leader Andrew Kozan (6). Thomas’ round featured eight birdies and no bogeys, putting him firmly in contention after the opening day.

Kozan produced a spectacular opening round at the AdventHealth Championship, firing a career-low, bogey-free 12-under 60 at Blue Hills Country Club to take a two-shot lead.

Kozan’s round was highlighted by an extraordinary hole-out from 133 yards for an eagle on the par-4 fourth. He added a string of birdies to complete a flawless 60, bettering his previous career-low of 63, which he had shot three times.

Four-time Korn Ferry Tour winner Robby Shelton was also in the top five at 8-under, while Ross Steelman, the current No. 1 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, opened with a 6-under 66 to lie tied 22nd.

The AdventHealth Championship is the final regular-season event on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour schedule. After this week, the top 156 players on the Points List will qualify for the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, the first of four Korn Ferry Tour Finals events.

Source: IANS

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St. Louis, Aug 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rory McIlroy made an emphatic return to form as he opened with a bogey-free six-under 64 to grab a share of the lead at the BMW Championship, while Indian-origin Akshay Bhatia made a solid start to the second FedExCup Playoffs event with a three-under 67 at Bellerive Country Club.

McIlroy was among five players tied at the top at six-under, alongside fellow U.S. Open champions Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark and J.J. Spaun, as well as Chris Gotterup. The packed leaderboard reflected the quality of the field, with several major champions producing impressive opening rounds on a soft Bellerive layout.

Among the Indian-origin players, Bhatia carded a three-under 67 to lie tied 12th while Aaron Rai was another shot back at two-under 68, tied 21st. Sahith Theegala opened with a one-over 71 and was tied 37th.

Bhatia's 67 was impressive given the intense FedExCup pressure. With only 50 players competing in the BMW Championship, every position carries significance as the field battles for a place among the 30 who will advance to the TOUR Championship.

For McIlroy, the round was particularly encouraging after a difficult week in Memphis. Returning from a four-week break following The Open, the four-time major champion, struggled badly at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, failing to break par in any of the four rounds. He subsequently returned home to Florida and worked with swing coach Michael Bannon on his game.

The response was immediate. McIlroy found the fairways and greens consistently and avoided a single bogey, putting himself firmly in contention for another major playoff title.

Among the strongest performers was Woodland, who produced a memorable 64. The 2019 U.S. Open champion is making a remarkable push to reach the season-ending TOUR Championship after undergoing brain surgery. He began the week 31st in the FedExCup standings, with only the top 30 advancing to East Lake.

Woodland holed out with a sand wedge from 99 yards for eagle on the 11th and later hit a superb 2-iron from 286 yards on the par-five 17th to set up another birdie. His performance provided one of the emotional highlights of the opening day.

The global stars were also prominent. Wyndham Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champion from Shinnecock Hills, made five birdies over his final six holes to join the leaders. J.J. Spaun, the 2024 U.S. Open champion, also finished at six-under after switching back to the putter he used for his Oakmont triumph.

Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, was one shot behind at five-under, further strengthening the major-championship presence at the top of the leaderboard.

<

p class="ql-align-justify">World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, endured a difficult opening day. After dominating the FedExCup opener with an eight-shot victory, Scheffler was forced to settle for a two-over 72 at Bellerive, his highest opening-round score since the U.S. Open in June. He said he was feeling sick and left the locker room without speaking further.

Source: IANS

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Aberdeen, Aug 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shubhankar Sharma carded a one-over 73 to lie tied 38th, while Yuvraj Sandhu opened with a three-over 75 and was tied 62nd after a demanding first round of the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links.

Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult set the pace with an impressive five-under 67 to establish a two-shot lead. Starting from the 10th, Kinhult overcame testing Scottish conditions with seven birdies and two bogeys. His 67 was the only round of five-under or better as strong winds made scoring difficult on the exposed links layout.

Sharma, starting on the 10th tee, made a slow start with a bogey on the opening hole. He bounced back with a birdie on the 12th but dropped another shot on the 15th before gaining a stroke on the par-five 18th. He made the turn in 37.

On his second nine, Sharma birdied the par-five first but surrendered the advantage with a bogey on the fifth. He completed his round with a level-par 36 to finish six shots off the lead.

Sandhu was two-over through his opening six holes but steadied himself with a birdie on the 18th to turn in 37. On his second nine, he birdied the third but a bogey on the second and a double bogey on the sixth left him with a two-over 38 and a 75.

English amateur Eliot Baker was among the surprise performers, shooting a three-under 69 on his DP World Tour debut. His round included an eagle and four birdies, leaving him tied second alongside Andrew Wilson, Félix Mory and Benjamin Follett-Smith.

<

p class="ql-align-justify">Keita Nakajima, Jacob Skov Olesen, Lucas Bjerregaard, Scott Jamieson and Albin Bergstrom were among those at two-under 70. Patrick Reed and Eugenio Chacarra opened with 72.

Source: IANS

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Kolar, Aug 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Mohd Azhar carded a one-under 71 to claim his maiden professional title at the second edition of the Rs 1 crore Kolar Open at Zion Hills Golf County on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The 27-year-old Hyderabad golfer (70-68-70-71) finished at nine-under 279 to secure a two-shot victory. He collected the winner’s cheque of Rs 15 lakh and climbed seven places from 17th to 10th in the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit, taking his season’s earnings to Rs 35,14,675.

Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (73-68-67-73), a four-time winner on the tour, and Delhi’s Shaurya Bhattacharya (68-67-71-75), a three-time winner, shared second place at seven-under 281.

Cheema recorded his second runner-up finish of the season, having also finished tied second at the Boulders Classic in April.

Bhattacharya began the final round with a two-shot lead and remained in control until the closing stretch. However, consecutive double bogeys on the 17th and 18th proved costly, leaving him two shots behind Azhar.

It was another close finish at Zion Hills for Bhattacharya, who also finished runner-up in the inaugural edition last year, two shots behind Kshitij Naveed Kaul.

Azhar, who joined the professional tour in 2020, began the final round two shots behind Bhattacharya. He stayed patient through testing spells of wind and rain and created enough opportunities to move ahead as the tournament reached its decisive stage.

“Today was very good and I’m extremely happy with the way I played,” said Azhar. “The conditions were difficult with the wind and rain, but I stayed patient and focused on finding greens in regulation.”

Azhar reached the par-five second in two shots and made a comfortable two-putt birdie. He then struck his approach close for a tap-in birdie on the fourth.

One of the biggest moments of his round arrived on the 12th, where he holed a putt from around 30 to 35 feet for birdie.

“I created several birdie opportunities and managed to convert enough of them,” he said. “The long putt on the 12th was one of the highlights. On the back nine, I tried to play solidly and make pars whenever a birdie opportunity was not available.”

The victory completed a significant step forward for Azhar, whose previous best result on the DP World PGTI was a tied-second finish at the Boulders Classic in April.

His breakthrough also came at an ideal time, with the tour set to travel to his hometown of Hyderabad in the coming weeks.

“This win gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming events,” Azhar said. “I’m particularly excited about returning to Hyderabad, where both the Hyderabad Golf Association and Vooty Golf County feel like home courses to me.”

Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat (71-71-69-71), the 2024 DP World PGTI Rankings champion, finished alone in fourth place at six-under 282.

Defending champion Kshitij Naveed Kaul (73-75-66-69) of Delhi and Badal Hossain (69-72-69-73) shared fifth place at five-under 283.

Current DP World PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar (72-71-70-74), who spent the summer competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, finished 10th at one-under 287.

Talwar earned Rs 2 lakh and strengthened his position at the top of the rankings, taking his season’s earnings to INR 86,33,234.

Source: IANS

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Kolar (Karnataka), Aug 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shaurya Bhattacharya shot a one-under 71 to retain a two-shot lead after the third round of the second edition of the INR 1 crore Kolar Open at the ZION Hills Golf County on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Delhi golfer, who began the day three strokes clear, followed his opening rounds of 68 and 67 with a one-under 71 to reach 10-under 206. His advantage was reduced by one, but he remained in control heading into the final round.

Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (73-68-67) and Hyderabad’s Mohd Azhar (70-68-70) shared second place at eight-under 208. Cheema made the strongest move among Bhattacharya’s nearest challengers, returning a five-under 67 to climb into contention. Azhar stayed in the hunt with a two-under 70.

The Czech Republic’s Stepan Danek (76-70-63) produced the lowest round of the day, firing a bogey-free nine-under 63 featuring nine birdies. His round included four consecutive birdies from the first through the fourth as he climbed from tied 14th overnight to fourth place at seven-under 209.

Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain (69-72-69) occupied fifth place at six-under 210, while Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat (71-71-69), the 2024 DP World PGTI Rankings champion, was sixth at five-under 211.

Bhattacharya’s round was played in testing weather, with rain and strong winds making the back nine particularly demanding. The three-time DP World PGTI winner struck the ball well but missed two short putts during the closing stretch.

“The rain and strong winds made the conditions difficult, especially on the back nine,” said Bhattacharya. “I hit the ball well but missed two short putts coming home.”

A birdie on the final hole provided a timely lift and allowed him to restore a two-shot cushion ahead of Sunday’s final round. “Finishing with a birdie was important and gave me a positive end to the round,” he said.

Bhattacharya, currently 16th in the season rankings, does not plan to alter the approach that has kept him at the top of the leaderboard through the first three days. “The plan is to keep finding fairways and hitting greens,” he said. “That approach has worked well over the first three rounds, so I’ll stay with it tomorrow.”

Current PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (72-71-70), who spent the summer competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, improved from tied ninth to seventh place at three-under 213.

Defending champion Kshitij Naveed Kaul (73-75-66) of Delhi made one of the day’s biggest moves. His six-under 66 lifted him from tied 22nd to a share of eighth place at two-under 214.

Kaul was joined by Panipat’s Shubham Jaglan (70-73-71) and Jaipur’s Prakhar Asawa (71-71-72). Jaglan arrived in Bengaluru after securing his maiden professional title at last week’s Coal India Open in Kolkata.

Source: IANS

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St. Louis (USA), Aug 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sahith Theegala faces a high-stakes battle at the 2026 BMW Championship, knowing he will likely need a finish near the top of the leaderboard to break into the top 30 of the FedEx Cup standings and advance to the season-ending Tour Championship.

The BMW Championship, being played at the historic Bellerive Country Club from August 20 to 23, features the remaining 50 players in the FedEx Cup Play-offs. Only the top 30 after this week will qualify for the finale, where the FedEx Cup champion will be decided.

Bellerive, a demanding par-70 layout stretching 7,448 yards, is expected to test every aspect of the players' games. With more than 70 sand traps and a premium on precise ball-striking and long-iron play, the course offers little room for mistakes. The $20 million event has no halfway cut, ensuring all 50 players get four rounds to make their move.

The BMW Championship also carries significance beyond qualification for East Lake. The 30 players who advance to the Tour Championship will have a chance to compete for the FedEx Cup title, while securing exemptions into next year's major championships is another major incentive.

Theegala enters the week at No. 46 in the FedEx Cup standings. Although his place in next season's $20 million Signature Events is secure after making the top 50, he has a much tougher task ahead if he is to extend his Play-off run. A finish around the top three could be required to give him a realistic chance of moving into the top 30.

Theegala, a popular figure on the PGA Tour, will begin his campaign alongside Justin Thomas. His performance over the next four days could determine whether he gets an opportunity to compete for the biggest prize of the season at East Lake.

Among the Indian-origin contingent, Akshay Bhatia, also supported by Hero, is comfortably the best placed. The three-time PGA Tour winner sits No. 15 in the FedExCup standings and has effectively secured his place in the TOUR Championship. Bhatia, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this season, will tee off with Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

Aaron Rai, meanwhile, occupies 37th place and also has work to do if he is to reach the top 30. The English-Indian golfer, who captured the PGA Championship earlier this year, will need a strong week at Bellerive to climb into the qualifying positions for the Tour Championship. He is paired with Ben Griffin.

The 2026 Play-offs have already produced a landmark moment for Indian-origin golf, with four players advancing through the regular season and three making it into the elite 50-man BMW Championship field. Bhatia, Theegala and Rai have all guaranteed themselves starts in next year's Signature Events, while Rai's Major victory has already secured him entry into all four Majors.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju, the Indo-Canadian rookie, narrowly missed the BMW field after finishing 58th in the final points list. He had produced an impressive run in the opening Play-off events, including spending time inside the top 10, but ultimately fell short of the top-50 cutoff.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives as the overwhelming favourite after an emphatic eight-shot victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Rory McIlroy, Rai and Xander Schauffele are among those expected to challenge him.

But while the leading contenders chase the title, the real drama will unfold around the top-30 bubble. With players such as Rickie Fowler, Kurt Kitayama and Gary Woodland separated by only a handful of points, every shot could have major consequences. Adam Scott, Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland are also battling to keep their seasons alive.

For Theegala, however, the equation is particularly simple: he needs a big week at Bellerive. Anything close to the top could keep his FedExCup dream alive, while a modest finish is likely to bring his season to an early end.

Source: IANS

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Kolar (Karnataka), Aug 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shaurya Bhattacharya shot a five-under 67 to extend his lead to three strokes at nine-under 135 on Day Two of the second edition of the INR 1 crore Kolar Open at the ZION Hills Golf County on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old from Delhi, a two-time winner on the PGTI and currently 16th in the season rankings, began the day with a one-shot advantage. He made six birdies against a lone bogey to strengthen his position at the top of the leaderboard.

Starting from the 10th tee, Bhattacharya dropped his only shot of the day on the par-four 12th and remained one-over for his round through seven holes. However, he remained confident because of the quality of his ball-striking. “I made a slow start and was one-over through seven holes, but I knew I was hitting good shots,” said Bhattacharya.

His patience was rewarded on the 17th, where a well-struck drive set up the first of five consecutive birdies. Bhattacharya continued his run through the 18th, first, second and third holes to take control of the tournament. “I struck a very good drive on the 17th and converted the opportunity, which started the run,” he said. “I kept giving myself good looks over the next few holes and managed to take advantage.”

Bhattacharya added one more birdie and did not drop another shot as he followed his opening 68 with the best round of the day.

Hyderabad’s Mohd Azhar (70-68), who began the day tied fifth, climbed to second place at six-under 138. Azhar mixed six birdies with two bogeys in a four-under 68 to emerge as Bhattacharya’s nearest challenger. Greater Noida’s Arjun Sharma (69-72), Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema (73-68) and Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain (69-72) shared third place at three-under 141.

The wind strengthened during the second round, forcing players to control their ball flight on the exposed 7,330-yard layout. Bhattacharya felt his ability to adapt to the changing conditions played an important role. “The conditions required me to manufacture shots and control the flight of the ball, particularly when playing into the wind,” he said. “I thought I handled that well, found plenty of fairways and missed in the right places.”

Bhattacharya finished runner-up to Kshitij Naveed Kaul by two shots in the inaugural edition last year and is once again well-placed heading into the weekend. “I have good memories of this course despite coming up just short last year,” he said. “I’m in a good position and looking forward to the last two rounds.”

Current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar (72-71), who spent the summer competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, moved from tied 11th to tied ninth at one-under 143.

Talwar was joined by Panipat’s Shubham Jaglan (70-73), who slipped four places from tied fifth after returning a one-over 73. Jaglan arrived in Bengaluru after securing his maiden professional title at last week’s Coal India Open in Kolkata. Defending champion Kshitij Naveed Kaul (73-75) of Delhi slipped from tied 15th to tied 22nd at four-over 148.

Only 12 players from the field of 132 finished the opening 36 holes at even par or better, underlining the challenge presented by the par-72 layout. The cut fell at eight-over 152, with 51 players advancing to the final two rounds.

Source: IANS

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Kolar (Karnataka), Aug 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shaurya Bhattacharya carded a four-under 68 to take a one-shot lead in the opening round of the second edition of the INR 1 crore Kolar Open, being played at the ZION Hills Golf County in Kolar near Bengaluru.

The 23-year-old from Delhi, a two-time winner on the DP World PGTI and currently 16th in the season rankings, made an eagle and four birdies against two bogeys to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Bhattacharya began with a par before his round came alive on the par-five second, where he chipped in for eagle. He followed that with a bunker shot to about two feet for birdie on the third and chipped to within a foot on the fourth, moving to four-under through his opening four holes.

He picked up two more shots on the back nine, making birdies on the 11th and 13th. A 15-foot conversion on the 13th helped steady his round before he finished with a sequence of pars to secure the outright lead. Shaurya’s two bogeys came on the eighth and 14th.

Gurugram’s Dhruv Sheoran, Greater Noida’s Arjun Sharma and Bangladesh’s Badal Hossain were one shot behind in tied second after carding matching three-under 69s.

Hyderabad’s Mohd Azhar and Panipat’s Shubham Jaglan shared fifth place at two-under 70. Jaglan arrived in Bengaluru after securing his maiden professional title at last week’s Coal India Open in Kolkata. Bhattacharya, who finished runner-up by two shots in the inaugural edition last year, was pleased to take advantage of his fast start.

“Getting to four-under through the first four holes gave me early momentum,” said Bhattacharya. “The course played tough, especially as the greens became firmer towards the end, but I stayed patient on the back nine and managed to put together a "very good round”

The Delhi golfer believes the combination of length, wind and large greens gives ZION Hills a character that is different from most venues on the DP World PGTI.

“It is a really good test of golf, and unlike most courses we play,” he said. “There is plenty of wind and the greens are huge, which makes the pin positions particularly important. I played well here last year, so I’m looking forward to the next three rounds.”

Sheoran, currently 12th in the DP World PGTI Rankings, admitted that he arrived at the

tournament without complete confidence in his game. Rather than chase a score, he focused on keeping the ball in play and creating opportunities around the greens.

“My game has not been where I would like it to be, so the plan was simple,” said Sheoran. “I wanted to keep the ball in play, give myself opportunities around the greens, and convert as many birdie chances as possible. Fortunately, I managed to hole a few putts.”

Sheoran also benefited from relatively manageable wind during his opening round. “The wind was fairly kind to us, and I hope the conditions remain similar over the next few rounds,” he added.

Current DP World PGTI Rankings leader Saptak Talwar, who spent the summer competing on the HotelPlanner Tour, returned an even-par 72 to share 11th place. Talwar was joined on that total by Ajeetesh Sandhu, Yuvraj Singh and Md Muaj.

Defending champion Kshitij Naveed Kaul of Delhi opened with a one-over 73 to occupy tied 15th place. Starting from the 10th tee, Kaul made an eagle on the par-five 18th, his ninth hole of the day.

Only 14 players from the field of 132 managed to shoot even-par or better, underlining the challenge presented by the par-72 layout.

Measuring 7,330 yards, ZION Hills is one of the longest courses in India. Its four par-three holes are longer than usual, while the closing stretches on both nines, holes seven to nine and 16 to 18, demand accuracy and patience.

Water is in play on most holes across a course featuring 10 lakes, with the eighth regarded as one of its most treacherous tests. The 13 th hole boasts an island green.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey hailed former Indian footballer I. Arumainayagam's recognition with the Arjuna Award (Lifetime), calling it a "matter of great pride" for Indian football and praising his contribution to the country's historic 1962 Asian Games triumph.

Indian football legend I Arumainayagam was conferred with the Arjuna Award (Lifetime) 2025 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday in recognition of his contribution to Indian sport both during and after his illustrious playing career.

The Arjuna Award (Lifetime) honours and motivates sportspersons who have made significant contributions through their performances and continued to contribute to the promotion of sport after retiring from active competition.

A speedy winger who represented India during one of the most celebrated periods in the country's football history, Arumainayagam was part of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, one of the greatest achievements in Indian football. He made his international debut against Thailand on August 28, 1962, at the Asian Games and went on to represent India 18 times, scoring three goals.

Arumainayagam also represented India at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, where India finished runners-up, and at the Merdeka Cup in 1966 and 1967. India finished third at the 1966 Merdeka Cup.

His domestic career was equally distinguished. In the Santosh Trophy, Arumainayagam represented Madras/Tamil Nadu, Bengal and Railways between 1958 and 1971. He was part of Bengal's victorious Santosh Trophy team in 1962.

At club level, Arumainayagam spent eight years with Mohun Bagan, from 1961 to 1968, scoring 56 goals. During his time with the club, he won the Calcutta Football League four times (1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965), the IFA Shield in 1961 and 1962, the Durand Cup in 1963, 1964 and 1965, and the Rovers Cup in 1966. He also represented Southern Railway in 1969 and 1970.

Arumainayagam was also conferred the Mohun Bagan Ratna in 2014.

The Arjuna Award (Lifetime) adds another significant honour to the career of a player who was part of India's golden generation and contributed to one of the defining triumphs in the history of Indian football.

AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey said, “It is a matter of great pride for Indian football that Shri I. Arumainayagam has been recognised with the Arjuna Award (Lifetime). He was an integral part of the Indian team that achieved the historic 1962 Asian Games triumph, a moment that continues to hold a special place in our footballing history. This honour recognises not only his achievements as a player, but also his enduring contribution to Indian football. On behalf of the AIFF, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to him on this well-deserved recognition.”

Source: IANS

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Kolar, Aug 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the official sanctioning body of professional golf in India, on Monday announced the second edition of the Kolar Open, which will be held at the magnificent ZION Hills Golf County in Kolar, Karnataka, from August 18 to 21. The total prize purse for the event is Rs 1 crore.

The leading Indian professionals participating in the event include PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar, Veer Ahlawat, Om Prakash Chouhan, Manu Gandas, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Shubham Jaglan and defending champion Kshitij Naveed Kaul, to name a few.

The prominent foreign names competing include Sri Lankans N. Thangaraja and Mithun Perera, Bangladeshis Jamal Hossain and Badal Hossain, Nepal’s Subash Tamang, Czechia’s Stepan Danek, Americans Koichiro Sato and Dominic Piccirillo, Japan’s Koichiro Ishika and Taiga Tanaka, Ugandans Joshua Seale and Marvin Kibirige, and Canada’s Sukhraj Singh Gill.

The leading Bengaluru-based professionals in the field are Manoj S, Chikkarangappa S, Rahil Gangjee, Mari Muthu R, Akshay Neranjen and Varun Muthappa, to name a few.

Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI, said, “The Kolar Open presented by ZION Hills Golf County is an important part of DP World PGTI’s endeavour to take professional golf to newer venues across the country. The success of last year's inaugural Kolar Open demonstrated the tremendous potential of the ZION Hills Golf County as a leading championship venue. We thank ZION Hills Golf County for its continued support this year and look forward to making the second edition of the Kolar Open another memorable chapter in the tournament’s journey. Another exciting week of competition is in the offing as India’s top professionals look to make an impact on the PGTI Order of Merit.”

A challenging, championship-level 18-hole golf course designed by the legendary architect Ronald Fream forms the centrepiece at ZION Hills. Expansive granite shelves, rusty boulders, and abundant lakes interweave with rolling greens to create a course that challenges experts yet inspires learners, guaranteeing a mix of exhilaration and the indomitable spirit that makes golf such an addiction.

Source: IANS

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