New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian golf has produced trailblazers who have made their mark on the global stage, but the search for consistent world-beaters continues. India's No. 1 golfer Yuvraj Sandhu believes the country isn't lacking in talent or ambition; the real gap lies in building an ecosystem that nurtures golfers to think and compete like world-class athletes from a young age.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Sandhu spoke candidly about why Indian golfers struggle to become regular winners on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, the brutal realities of life on the professional circuit, overcoming a career-threatening slump, and why "pressure is a privilege".

The 29-year-old also reflected on his Olympic aspirations, the changes Indian golf desperately needs at the grassroots level, and the long-term vision required to transform India into a genuine golfing powerhouse.

Excerpts –

IANS: You've won repeatedly on the Indian tour. What do you think is the one thing separating Indian golfers from becoming regular winners on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour?

Yuvraj Sandhu: “I honestly feel as somebody who's had success on the Indian tour and on the Asian tour as well, I honestly feel that there is no dearth of talent or skill or any dearth of hunger in the country when it comes to professional golf and even for, I would say, young amateurs who are wanting to turn professional golfers. So, I don't think that is a part where we need to really tap into where there is a lack of motivation or anything.

One thing I honestly feel is that we can get better in terms of professional golf and the transition from amateur golf to professional golf is the ecosystem around it. When I say the ecosystem, I mean the all-in-all of the infrastructure where the amateur or the professional golfer has a team that works with him or her on the minute or the minutest of details that requires to compete at the international level.

And rather than competing at the international level, think like an international athlete and think like a world-class athlete. Because I think if that begins from a very young age, anybody can be out there playing the best golf of her or his life. I feel infrastructure and ecosystem are the foundation of great golf.”

IANS: If asked your coach and your biggest rival separately, 'What's stopping Yuvraj Sandhu from becoming India's next global golf star?', what do you think each of them would say? And would you agree with either of them?

Yuvraj Sandhu: “My coach would already say that I am the next big star. I am already the next big star of Indian golf. I don't think my coach would say anything else apart from this. Because as a matter of fact, we were just chatting about it yesterday and he repeatedly told me that you are already the next big star that you are. You're already the number one player in the country. So, I don't think that's going to be an issue.

When it comes to my rivals, I hope I don't have any. But even if there is a friendly rival out there, I hope that that rival can compliment me. Because I always believe in being a good human being and a good sportsman. Of course, competition is a part of our lives. We are athletes, we compete for a living. But at the same time, once we're off the golf course and we're not competing, I don't think it should really matter as much. Because sports is a way of life and it teach you just much more than competing out there. It's like a full-on package when it comes to personality building.

So, I think I have personally reached a point where if you ask me about my rival, I would only take out some positives because I have been very observant of the golfers in the DP World, which is the European tour, and higher tours of their positive work ethics or how they are getting better every year, very stably through the years.”

IANS: Every athlete talks about pressure before a final round, but very few explain what it actually feels like. During those last few holes when a title is on the line, what is the loudest voice inside your head and how have you trained yourself to silence it?

Yuvraj Sandhu: “The loudest voice in my head when I'm into that mix or if I'm leading a tournament or if I'm a short pack and I know I can win this, the loudest voice would be, you've done this a couple of times, so how to do it. Just keep your head down and keep doing it.

Because pressure is a privilege. The reason why everybody says that pressure is a privilege, to a very long time, I did not understand what pressure is a privilege actually means. When we all athletes say that pressure is a privilege, it's basically a privilege for you as a human being and as a person to understand what the pressure can get out of you. It is the best that's coming out of you in terms of those pressure moments if you just stick to what your craft is.

So, for me, I take it in a stride where I have been in situations where I've pulled through and I've been in situations where I could have pulled through, but the situations that I could not pull through are the situations that I still remember because had those situations not happened, I wouldn't have learned to win tournaments back-to-back or win tournaments by the margins that I have been winning tournaments.

So, I think pressure is a feeling that if you can generalise it in a good positive way, I think it can just hone so many skills and personalities, and it can show you that competing in the zone is actually real.”

IANS: Golf is slowly finding a stronger place in India's sporting conversation because of the Olympics. When you imagine wearing the India blazer at the Olympics, what responsibility comes with it beyond chasing a medal?

Yuvraj Sandhu: “More than responsibility, I feel pride. I feel honoured to represent the country in whichever tournament I get to play, wearing the Indian blazer or having the Indian flag right in front of my name. And whenever I'm playing the Europa League, I always see the Indian flag soaring high and I always thank myself that I'm here.

Definitely, the Olympics are one game that every athlete dreams about. And there have been moments when I keep thinking about the Olympic Games and, of course, doing well at them. But I feel that again, there are two ways to look at how you can make the Olympic Games a success. For me, it's just something that I'm going to keep repetitively playing and I know that I'm going to be successful there because all I can do right now is just put in work.”

IANS: What's the biggest uncomfortable truth about professional golf in India that fans don't see? Something every player knows but very few openly talk about.

Yuvraj Sandhu: “So, something every player knows about but very few openly talk about. I think the most common truth that spectators, fans and amateurs, they don't see or they don't understand is travelling is fun, but it's not fun when you travel back-to-back weeks for golf tournaments.

One is that. And second is that when you travel professionally for a tournament, that is where you actually feel that golf is an expensive sport. So, there is a misconception of a lot of people saying that golf is an expensive sport. But how is it expensive? It is only when you experience it at the top most, at the most professional level, where that you are making either a certain amount of paycheques or you're not.

So, it's just like, it's a very cutthroat industry where if you slacken even a little bit, you don't get to be out there again. Or everything, every year is different. Every year is like a clean slate, a fresh start for a lot of players out there. You have to keep your cards, you have to keep your status, you have to make a certain amount of points, a certain amount of money to have the honourable merits. And if you don't do that, you have to repeatedly get your professional status again.

So, I think a lot of that comes with experiencing professional golf, which is a lot when you actually are in it, rather than seeing it from a third perspective or a third-person outside view, where you see that, oh, you're travelling, seeing the world, there's glamour, there are Rolexes, there's Omega and all of that. But it takes a lot to be out there, especially just competing. And doing well is at another level altogether.

So, I think that's one uncommon truth that I don't think a lot of the amateurs and the fans and the spectators really, really know about in detail.”

IANS: When was the last time golf completely broke your confidence? What happened, and how did you rebuild yourself?

Yuvraj Sandhu: “I was playing on the Asian tour. This is, this is just right after COVID. It was 2023, if I'm not wrong. Okay. 2023. And I hadn't been playing well. I had been having a little bit of physical issues with my shoulder. And I was overpushing myself into practice. I was exhausting myself in my workouts. I was trying to work out more. I was trying to practise more to get rid of the stretch that I was having.

There was a point in time where I did not make quite a handful of cuts. And I think I was on the verge of losing my Asian tour card, I would say that.

And there was an off-season where I met my team back home again. And I think that's where, that's where the whole team comes in, where you surround yourself, who you surround with, who you surround yourself with. I think that moment when I could spend my time with my team and they could talk to me about some things which are bigger than performances and bigger than finishes and all that.

I think that's where I got a little different perspective of what golf is; golf is definitely important. And there will be days where you play exceptionally well and score well. And that's the, that's the harsh reality of a sport.

And of course there'll be days where you don't really play well, but you finish well. So I think that's also where I learnt to be more patient and a little bit more stable because I was, I was going from a young boy to becoming a man, I guess. And life has its own ways to teach you lessons.

And golf is a beautiful game. The way it teaches you life lessons is very eye-opening. When you look back, I'm very grateful for that, for that, for that situation that I was in where I practically had my back against my wall. And I think if that hadn't happened, then a season like last, last year, a dream season like that, would not have happened because I actually learnt the value of smart work and also letting go. And I think that that was a very big lesson that I needed to learn.

Sports is a way of life. That's why they say everybody should play a sport or try to play a sport. You can be active going on a treadmill, you can be active going to a gym, you can be active while doing your stairs, you could be active while skipping. But when you actually compete, that's when you actually realise what the sport actually is and the importance of sports in your life. It's a very deep meaning; if you ask me, you can talk to me about it for hours. And it's, it's just beautiful if you actually tap into the, the, the thrill of competing.”

IANS: If you had the power to change just one thing about Indian golf tomorrow—whether it's coaching, junior pathways, sponsorship, media coverage or tournament structure—which one change would have the biggest impact over the next decade?

Yuvraj Sandhu: “I would change two of these. One is definitely the junior pathway, the grassroots level, the way children are introduced to the sport, the way parents are introduced to the sport, the way the potential of the sport is shown to juniors to, to literally school-going kids who want to take up the sport and parents who are obviously at that age, parents are in two minds whether we want to let our child pursue a sport like this in our country. I think that is something that I would really, really want to change moving forward.

And the second thing would be the sponsorships and management around the sport, because I honestly feel like we have so much talent and we have so much hunger in terms of golfers who want to go out there and improve themselves internationally and nationally as well. And it's not really expensive to buy equipment, but rather it's more expensive to travel and play and do that for back-to-back weeks and do that year after year.

So I think, I think that is something that would have a major impact going forward for, I'm saying, I'm saying with, with retrospect to players and the gamers as well, because India definitely has the capacity and the capability to host world-class international tournaments. And if it has the capacity and capability to host world-class tournaments, it definitely has the capacity and capability to develop world-class athletes as well.

So I don't see any real issue there. I just see, I just see that we need more and more people with a stronger passion combined with a long-term vision that, that can just press on the pedal and work towards it more positively.”

For Sandhu, success is about far more than trophies and rankings. Whether discussing the pressures of closing out tournaments, the setbacks that shaped his career, or the future of Indian golf, the 28-year-old repeatedly returned to the same themes: patience, perspective, process and purpose.

As Indian golf searches for its next global breakthrough, Sandhu believes the country already possesses the talent and ambition required. What remains, he says, is building an ecosystem capable of consistently producing world-class athletes.

With his sights firmly set on competing with the world's best and one day representing India at the Olympics, Sandhu appears determined to turn that vision into reality, one tournament at a time.

Source: IANS

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Hosur (TN), July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Hitaashee Bakshi makes a return to Leg-9 of the domestic Women’s Professional Golf Tour at the Clover Greens in the hope of trying to recover the form that made her one of the stars of the local golfing scene.

Hitaashee, who has been finding the going tough on the Ladies European Tour, has decided to get back to her home Tour, as she locks horns with Vani Kapoor, Ridhima Dilawari, and Amandeep Drall. She will also get to play with the young and fresh lot that includes the likes of Anvitha Narender, Mannat Brar, Riya, Lavanya Jadon, and amateur Mahreen Bhatia.

This is Hitaashee’s first start on the domestic Tour this season, as she has been playing on the Ladies European Tour.

The field has become the norm of late, and it is strong, with the numbers consistently above 50, including the amateurs. This week, there are 58 players, including 10 amateurs, and the purse at Clover Greens, Hosur in Tamil Nadu, is Rs.17 lakh.

With the competition having become tight, not even the top stars like Vani, Ridhima, or Hitaashee can have it easy with the younger lot pushing them and often beating them.

This season, of the eight events held so far, Ridhima has been most successful with three wins, while Jasmine Shekar, Tvesa Malik, amateur Lavanya Gupta, Anvitha Narender, and Mannat Brar have won once each.

The current WPGT Order of Merit leader is Ridhima Dilawari, with Jasmine Shekar and Amandeep Drall trailing her in second and third places.

A few days back, Ridhima Dilawari rallied from a bogey-bogey start to fire her third straight round of 71 and sneak ahead of Jasmine Shekar in the sixth leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Jaypee Wishtown Golf Course. Playing at the Par-71 layout, Ridhima, starting the final round three shots behind Jasmine, was five behind after just two holes.

<

p class="ql-align-justify">Ridhima then staged a superb recovery with two birdies and no bogeys for the rest of the 16 holes, while Jasmine carded a 4-over 75 that ended with a bogey. Jasmine and Ridhima were tied at even par when they came to the 18th tee. Ridhima parred, but Jasmine bogeyed, giving Ridhima her third win in the last five events. Ridhima won the second and fourth legs and has now added the sixth leg as she continues to lead the Hero Order of Merit. For Jasmine, who won the first leg this season, this was her second straight second-place finish.

Source: IANS

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Illinois (USA), June 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Lucas Glover (63-63-69) and Lee Hodges (64-66-67) led the field at the end of the third day of the John Deere Classic held at TPC Deere Run.

Glover and Hodges have a score of 16-under par and their closest rivals are the trio of Ben Kohles (65-67-66), Jackson Suber (68-64-66) and Zac Blair (63-68-67) with a score of 15-under par. The top 10 heading into the final round includes 11 players of which the only non-America player is Ryo Hisatsune of Japan in T-8 with a score of 12-under par (67-65-69).

Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju had earlier missed the cut, while Akshay Bhatia, Sahith Theegala and Aaron Rai did not tee up this week.

Glover began the week by setting the low score of the week in his first side alongside Zac Blair as both players carded 8-under 63. Glover commented that it's always a shootout here. Glover has held or shared the lead since Thursday.

The third round saw Glover make his first bogey of the week as he recorded a card of 2-under 69. Glover began his third round strong as he made his first eagle of the week on the second hole before dropping a shot on the ninth hole with a bogey. With the help of a late birdie on the 17th hole he was able to stay joint leader at the end of the third day.

Hodges began his third round two strokes behind Glover before carding 4-under 67 to gain a position on the leaderboard and become joint leader with only one round left in the week. Hodges began his third round with an early birdie on the second hole before picking up another stroke on the fifth hole. Bogeys in quick succession on the sixth and eighth holes saw the one time PGA title winner briefly move back to even par for the day before he made birdies on the 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes to close the day as joint leader.

Reigning NCAA champion and top ranked amateur Preston Stout is also within the top 10. Stout placed T-8 on the leaderboard with a score of 12-under par (66-69-66) and is in contention for the title. The Texan and rising senior from Oklahoma State fired off a round of 5-under 66 on the third day to gain 11 positions and put himself into the running. Stout made seven birdies and two birdies in his third round.

Source: IANS

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Munich, June 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) Thomas Rosenmueller carded the lowest round of the day on Saturday as he shot 7-under 65 to move into contention for the title at the BMW International Open.

Rosenmueller is now placed T-4 on the leaderboard with a total score of 11-under par (69-71-65) and is just two strokes shy of leaders Bernd Wiesberger (68-68-67) and Michael Hollick (66-68-69) who have a score of 13-under par.

Earlier Shubhankar Sharma (73-73) missed the cut on his return to competition after a long break. Yuvraj

Rosenmueller began his third round with a bogey for the second day in a row before making seven birdies and an eagle along with his two bogeys to card 7-under 65. After his round he stated, "I don't really have any expectations, I obviously made the cut on the number late yesterday. It's my mum's birthday today so I was trying to give her a birthday present, but no expectations because I know how this golf course can play and how thick the rough is in some areas.

Joint leader Bernd Wiesberger carded 5-under 67 to share the lead alongside Michael Hollick at 13-under par. Wiesberger made six birdies and one bogey in his third round to put himself into prime position to fight for the title. Michael Hollick, the other joint leader carded 3-under 69 after making four birdies and one bogey to share the lead.

In third place one stroke behind the leader is Carlos Ortiz with a score of 12-under par (67-67-70). Ortiz carded a score of 2-under 70 after making three birdies and one bogey during the third round.

Second day leader Hennie Du Plessis fell down to T-4 on the leaderboard alongside Thomas Rosenmueller. Du Plessis made two birdies and two bogeys in his third round to card a score of even par 72. His total score stands at 11-under par (64-69-72).

Source: IANS

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Hulencourt (Belgium), July 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Diksha Dagar's impressive run on the Ladies European Tour showed no signs of slowing down as the in-form Indian produced another composed, bogey-free round to move into a share of the first-round lead at the Hulencourt Women's Open on Thursday. Fellow Indian Aditi Ashok also made an encouraging start, finishing inside the top 10 after the opening day.

Diksha carded a flawless four-under 68 to join South Africa's Nadia van der Westhuizen, Switzerland's Morgane Metraux, and England's Bronte Law at the top of the leaderboard after 18 holes.

Aditi, returning to the LET after a lengthy break, signed for a two-under 70 to occupy tied seventh place, while Avani Prashanth recovered strongly for an even-par 72 to be tied 24th. Another golfer, Pranavi Urs, opened with a one-over 73 and was tied for 33rd.

Starting in the morning wave, Diksha quickly settled into her rhythm and never looked back. She collected birdies on the first, sixth, 10th, and 14th holes while avoiding mistakes throughout the day despite demanding conditions at Hulencourt Golf Club.

"It was a very steady day of golf," said the 25-year-old. "It was really tough conditions, but still we continued and stayed composed. I'm very happy that I went bogey-free. It was tough to read the greens, so I focused on the speed. The greens are also much faster than last week."

The latest effort extends an outstanding stretch of form for Diksha, who has now strung together four consecutive top-20 finishes on the LET. Two weeks ago, she narrowly missed forcing a playoff at the Dutch Ladies Open after finishing tied third, and she arrived in Belgium placed 11th in the Order of Merit standings.

The confidence from those performances was evident in her approach throughout the round. "It doesn't matter what the conditions are like, I know I can still play the same, and the form is there," Diksha said. "I think I'm very intuitive and go with my gut feeling a lot. I'm feeling very confident at the moment."

Aditi also enjoyed a productive opening day. The five-time LET champion mixed four birdies with two bogeys to stay within two shots of the lead and firmly in contention heading into the second round.

Avani, who has also enjoyed an impressive season that includes a tied-third finish at the Dutch Ladies Open, displayed resilience after slipping to three over through 11 holes. She bounced back impressively with three birdies over her closing four holes to salvage an even-par card.

Pranavi's round featured three birdies but four dropped shots left her one over for the day, though she remains well placed to make a move over the remaining rounds.

With calmer conditions emerging during the afternoon after a breezy morning, several players capitalised to catch the early clubhouse target set by Diksha.

Van der Westhuizen, playing only her fourth standalone LET event after competing largely on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, produced five birdies against a lone bogey to join the lead.

Olympian Morgane Metraux, a two-time LET winner who recently recorded a top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour at the Dow Championship, also signed for a 68 after making five birdies and one bogey.

England's Bronte Law completed the four-way tie at the summit with a four-under round in only her third LET appearance of the season.

Just one shot behind the leaders at three under were Thailand's 2023 Order of Merit winner Trichat Cheenglab and Finland's veteran Ursula Wikstrom.

Sharing seventh place alongside Aditi on two under were Australia's Kirsten Rudgeley and Kelsey Bennett, England's Meghan MacLaren, Hannah Screen, and Liz Young, Slovenia's Pia Babnik, Spain's Carolina Chacarra, and Sweden's Corrine Viden.

Defending champion Darcey Harry of Wales was forced to withdraw during the opening round because of a hip injury.

Source: IANS

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Beroun (Czech Republic), June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Diksha Dagar continued to build momentum on the Ladies European Tour with another strong finish, carding a final-round four-under 68 to secure a tied-12th place at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, while compatriots Pranavi Urs and Vani Kapoor also produced encouraging performances in Beroun, Czech Republic.

Diksha finished the week at 13-under 203, capping another impressive outing after her tied-third finish at last week's Dutch Ladies Open. The consistent run underlines the left-hander's growing confidence as she heads into the next stretch of the European season.

Diksha's closing round featured five birdies, including a spectacular eagle on the par-five 18th that lifted her into the top 12. Although she began the final day within touching distance of the leaders, a few missed opportunities in the middle of the round prevented a stronger challenge. Nevertheless, another high finish adds valuable points to her LET campaign.

India also drew plenty of positives from Pranavi Urs, who produced one of the finest rounds of the day. Starting on the 10th tee, Pranavi shot a five-under 67, highlighted by a stunning inward nine of six-under 30 that included an eagle and four birdies. Her late surge saw her climb to tied-24th, reflecting the attacking golf that has marked her season.

Vani Kapoor signed off with a one-under 71 to finish tied-49th. Her steady week, following rounds of 68 and 70, offered further encouragement as she continues to regain rhythm on the LET.

The other Indians in the field—Avani Prashanth, Ridhima Dilawari, and Hitaashee Bakshi—missed the cut in the low-scoring tournament.

The title, meanwhile, went to Finland's Noora Komulainen, who finally captured her maiden Ladies European Tour crown after nearly 14 years on the circuit and in her 199th LET start.

Komulainen began the final round one shot behind the lead but stormed home with four consecutive birdies to card a six-under 66 and finish at 18-under par, joining Australia's Justice Bosio and Sweden's Lisa Pettersson in a three-way playoff.

Returning to the par-five 18th, all three players elected to lay up before attacking the green with their third shots. Komulainen produced the decisive approach, knocking her wedge to six feet before calmly converting the birdie putt after Bosio and Pettersson failed to capitalise on their own chances.

Italy's Anna Zanusso finished fourth at 17-under, while Ecuador's Daniela Darquea, who celebrated her birthday with a career-best closing 63, claimed fifth place. Bosio nevertheless recorded the best finish of her LET career, while Italy's Roberta Liti, Austria's Emma Spitz, New Zealand's Amelia Garvey, and Slovenia's Pia Babnik shared sixth place at 15-under.

For India, however, the biggest takeaway was yet another productive week led by Diksha, whose consistency at the highest level continues to make her one of the country's strongest performers on the Ladies European Tour.

Source: IANS

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Chaska (USA), June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Haeran Ryu shot a final-round, 2-under-par 70 to win the Women’s PGA Championship and her first Major Championship title.

With her win, the South Korean Ryu also became just the seventh player since 1990 to win in each of her first four seasons on the LPGA Tour. She joined Karrie Webb (9 years), Grace Park (5), Yani Tseng (5), Brooke Henderson (5), Sei Young Kim (6), and Jin Young Ko (6).

"Feels like dreams come true right now because I tried the couple times on the major champion but I don't get it; today I did it, so I'm so happy right now," said Ryu. "Just a little bit short offseason during the season, but I just work hard with my coach still in Korea and it works this week, so I just thankful my coach and everybody."

Ina Yoon, who held the lead after both 18 holes and 36 holes, closed with a 2-under-par 70 to finish in solo second, while Henderson, who was looking to win a Women’s PGA Championship 10 years after her maiden Major title at Sahalee, shot a final-round, even-par 72 anf finished tied for third with Dewi Weber.

Nelly Korda, who was the 11th player in women's Major Championship history to win each of the first two Major Championships of a calendar year, closed with a 73. The only players to win each of the first three Majors in a calendar year are Inbee Park (2013) and Babe Zaharias (1950).

It was a historic comeback for Ryu (73, 1-over-par), who trailed then-leader Ina Yoon (63, 9-under-par) by 10 strokes at the conclusion of the opening round. It’s the largest opening-round deficit ever overcome to win the Women's PGA Championship.

The last player to overcome an opening-round deficit of at least 10 strokes to win any Major Championship was Carol Mann at the 1964 Women's Western Open. Mann shot 83 in the first round, which was 10 shots back of Round 1 leader Ruth Jessen (73) at Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola, Florida.

Source: IANS

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Pléneuf (France), June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Saptak Talwar had three each of birdies and bogeys in his even par third round of 70 as he stayed in the running for a Top-10 finish at the Blot Play9 on the Hotel Planner Tour. Talwar, leader on the DP World PGTI Tour rankings this season, is now Tied-12th with one more round to go.

While the topper on the DP World PGTI Tour gets a berth into the DP World Tour the following season, the Top-15 from Hotel Planner also get a berth into the main Tour, which means Talwar has two pathways. He is inside the Top-20 in Hotel Planner rankings called Road to Mallorca.

Talwar has been dividing his time between the PGTI and Hotel Planner Tour. His earlier rounds were 68-67 on the Par-70 course and he is now 5-under for 54 holes.

John Gough will take a solo lead into the final round of the Blot Play9, after carding a four under par round of 66 on day three in France.

The Englishman went bogey-free to reach 12 under par in Pléneuf, with home favourite Maxence Giboudot and Spain’s Joseba Torres two strokes back on ten under par.

Starting the third round in a share of the lead, Gough failed to make a gain on his first eight holes, those behind him making the most of the moving day to push ahead.

Gough is yet to secure his maiden HotelPlanner Tour victory but has enjoyed decent outings at Blot Play9 in the past, including a fourth-placed finish at last year’s edition in Brittany, where he carded a final round of 63 to earn his joint highest finish of the season.

Giboudot birdied two of his final three holes to sign for a seven under par 63, the joint lowest round of the week. Meanwhile, Torres mixed four birdies with an eagle, dropping just one shot in a round of 65.

South African Bryce Easton and Spain’s Pablo Ereño share fourth position on eight under. Dane Frederik Kjettrup and American Charles Huntzinger both sit one shot further back on seven under.

Source: IANS

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Turin (Italy), June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Spain's Eugenio Chacarra moved within one round of claiming his second DP World Tour title of the season after firing a six-under 65 to seize a two-shot lead following the third round of the 83rd Open d'Italia at Circolo Golf Torino on Saturday.

Starting the day four shots behind halfway leader Joaquín Niemann, Chacarra, winner of Hero Indian Open last year and the KLM Open this year, produced another composed display in difficult afternoon conditions to climb to 17-under-par. The Spaniard will head into the final round with momentum as he chases a second victory in three weeks.

India’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu has earlier missed the cut.

Chacarra made a bright start with an opening birdie before adding another at the seventh. He gathered further momentum with two more birdies before the turn to reach the outward half in 32. Although a bogey at the 13th briefly interrupted his progress, the 26-year-old responded in impressive fashion with three more birdies coming home to finish with the day's joint-best score among the contenders.

The Spaniard, currently sixth in the Race to Dubai Rankings, credited his patience and disciplined approach for another strong performance.

"It wasn't playing easy," Chacarra said. "The wind was changing a lot and the heat made the course challenging. I think I did a great job staying patient like I have all week, playing my game and controlling what I can control."

Rather than worrying about those around him, Chacarra said his focus remains firmly on his own performance despite the quality of players chasing him.

"I have enough with myself that if I need to focus on what Joaquín or the other guys are doing, I'd go crazy," he said. "There are a lot of great players behind me and on this course people can go really low. I just need to keep controlling what I can control and hopefully I'll have a chance down the stretch.

Niemann, who held the overnight lead, slipped into a share of second after an even-par 71 left him at 15-under alongside England's Matt Wallace.

The Chilean appeared set to strengthen his position after collecting five birdies and just one bogey on the front nine. However, three successive bogeys after the turn dramatically tightened the leaderboard before another dropped shot at the 15th further dented his challenge. A birdie at the 17th was immediately cancelled by a closing bogey as he surrendered the outright lead.

Wallace remained firmly in contention after backing up Friday's course record-equalling 62 with a four-under 67. The Englishman mixed six birdies with two bogeys to join Niemann in second place, ensuring Sunday's final group will feature three players separated by only two shots.

Germany's Nicolai von Dellinghausen and Spain's Ángel Ayora shared fourth place on 13-under, while South Africa's Dylan Frittelli occupied sixth at 12-under.

Denmark's Jeff Winther, who matched Wallace's course record earlier in the day, and Scotland's Richie Ramsay were tied seventh at 11-under, six shots off the lead but still within striking distance if conditions become favourable.

Tournament officials have adjusted Sunday's format and tee times because of forecast afternoon thunderstorms, with the leading trio of Chacarra, Niemann and Wallace set to battle it out in the final group for the Italian Open title.

Source: IANS

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Cromwell (Connecticut), June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Akshay Bhatia kept his hopes of a second PGA Tour title of the season alive by remaining in the leading group after three rounds of the Travelers Championship, ensuring that the Indian-origin star will begin Sunday's final round with a realistic chance of lifting another trophy.

Bhatia, backed by Hero, followed his spectacular second-round 62 with a composed three-under 67 to move to 15-under-par 195, leaving him tied for third at TPC River Highlands. Although five shots behind Norway's Viktor Hovland, the 23-year-old has already shown this week that low scores are possible on one of the Tour's most birdie-friendly layouts.

Hovland surged into the lead at 20-under after a six-under 64, edging world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by a single stroke in what promises to be an exciting final-day showdown. Bhatia shares third place with Patrick Cantlay, while a group of contenders, including reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and England's Matt Fitzpatrick, remain within touching distance.

For Bhatia, Saturday demanded discipline rather than brilliance. After dazzling the field with nine birdies during Friday's 62, he produced another solid display, picking up four birdies on the outward nine before a mixed back nine featuring one more birdie and two bogeys resulted in a 67. The steady round ensured he stayed firmly in contention despite Hovland and Scheffler setting the pace.

The American of Indian origin has already enjoyed a memorable season, highlighted by victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Another strong finish this week would further cement his status among the PGA Tour's elite and strengthen an already impressive campaign.

Among the other Indian-origin players, Aaron Rai continued his consistent run with a three-under 67 to climb to 10-under and a share of 22nd place. Rai's remarkable consistency has been one of the stories of the tournament, as he remains the only player in the field yet to card a bogey through 54 holes.

Hero-backed Sahith Theegala, meanwhile, continued his recovery after an opening-round 74. A second successive 67 lifted him to two-under overall and tied 62nd, though he remains well down the leaderboard.

The battle for the title intensified throughout the third round as Hovland and Scheffler traded blows over much of the day.

Starting two strokes behind Scheffler, Hovland wasted little time erasing the deficit by birdieing three of his first four holes. The pair remained locked together for most of the round before Scheffler briefly reclaimed the outright lead with a brilliant wedge approach to within two feet at the 14th.

The decisive moment came on the closing hole. Hovland calmly holed a six-foot birdie putt to finish with a 64 and reach 20-under-par 190. Moments later, Scheffler suffered his only blemish of the day, three-putting from the fringe for a bogey that left him at 19-under after a 67.

Cantlay also strengthened his challenge with a flawless six-under 64 to join Bhatia at 15-under. The eight-time PGA Tour winner boasts an outstanding record at TPC River Highlands, having now registered eight consecutive finishes of tied-15th or better at the Travelers Championship.

Five players sit another two strokes back at 13-under, keeping the championship wide open entering the final day.

Hovland will be seeking his eighth PGA Tour title and first Travelers Championship victory. His record when leading after 54 holes is encouraging, having converted four of his previous five such opportunities into victories.

Scheffler, however, remains a formidable threat. The world No. 1 is chasing his second title of the season and knows one more low round could be enough to overhaul the Norwegian.

Bhatia, though, cannot be discounted. His scintillating second-round 62 demonstrated his ability to go exceptionally low, and on a course where birdies often come in clusters.

Source: IANS

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Beroun (Czech Republic), June 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Riding a wave of strong performances, Indian golfers will look to carry their momentum into the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, with former champion Diksha Dagar leading a six-member challenge at Beroun Golf Club this week.

Dagar, Avani Prashanth, and Pranavi Urs arrive in the Czech Republic after producing impressive results at last week's Dutch Ladies Open, where the trio underlined India's growing presence on the Ladies European Tour (LET). Diksha and Avani shared third place, while Pranavi finished tied fifth, giving the Indian camp plenty of confidence heading into another important week on the circuit.

Joining them in the field are Hitaashee Bakshi, Vani Kapoor, and Ridhima Dilawari, making it one of the strongest Indian representations at a European event this season.

For Diksha, who is supported by Hero, the venue holds special significance. The left-hander captured the Czech Ladies Open title in 2023 and returns seeking a second victory at a course she considers among her favourites on the LET schedule.

The 25-year-old also celebrated a major milestone recently, making her 150th LET appearance. Since joining the tour in 2019, she has established herself as one of India's most consistent performers and currently sits 11th on the Order of Merit thanks to four top-10 finishes this season.

Coming off back-to-back top-10 results, Diksha believes she is a far more complete player than when she lifted the trophy three years ago.

"I’m a much better player than I was when I won here because the learning process continues, and it’s all about hard work," she said. "Coming back here brings back amazing memories. It reminds me of which holes I played well and where I made birdies."

The Indian star is optimistic about her chances this week. "I’m feeling pretty confident. I’m playing really good golf, and I’m looking forward to playing this golf course again. I won here before, so I’ll try to continue my form and see how it unfolds. Hopefully, I can win this again."

Diksha also spoke fondly of the venue and its surroundings. "It’s always amazing to come back. This golf course surprises me every year. It’s in great condition, and I really love this course. The 18th hole is such a signature hole because you get to see the town of Beroun and all the houses. It’s a beautiful city."

While Diksha has the advantage of past success at Beroun, Avani Prashanth enters the week with equally encouraging form. The youngster has steadily built momentum in recent weeks, finishing tied fifth at the Jabra Ladies Open in France before following it up with a career-best tied-third finish at the Dutch Ladies Open.

Her recent performances have strengthened hopes that a maiden LET title may not be far away.

Pranavi Urs, also a Hero Brand Ambassador, arrives with renewed confidence after registering her first top-10 finish of the season last week. One of India's most promising young professionals, she will be aiming to build on that breakthrough result and climb further up the standings.

Among the other Indians, Hitaashee Bakshi will be looking to rediscover the form that saw her finish tied ninth at the Australian WPGA Championship earlier this year. A difficult stretch has followed, with missed cuts in five of her last six starts, but the Indian remains capable of producing a strong performance.

Vani Kapoor and Ridhima Dilawari add valuable experience to the Indian challenge. Vani, one of the most successful players on the domestic circuit, earned her place through a sponsor invitation. She recorded two top-10 finishes on the LET in 2025, including a tied-sixth finish at the Amundi German Masters and a top-10 result at the Hero Women’s Indian Open.

Ridhima, meanwhile, makes her first LET appearance of the 2026 season. Having competed regularly on the tour in previous years, she will be eager to make an immediate impact.

Diksha is one of only three former champions in this week's field. Home favourite Jana Melichova, the 2022 winner, and Spain's Marta Martin, who triumphed in 2024, are the other past champions competing in the 54-hole event.

Source: IANS

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Worcestershire, June 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Saptak Talwar produced his best performance outside India this season, narrowly missing out on a top 10 finish as he ended tied 12th at the English Open on the HotelPlanner Tour.

The 27-year-old Indian signed off with a four-under 68 to finish at 10-under-par for the week, just one stroke shy of a share of seventh place after an impressive final-round charge at The Vale Golf Club.

It was Talwar's best finish outside India and his second-best result of the season after finishing runner-up at the DP World PGTI Open in March.

Starting the final day in a share of 24th at six-under, Talwar climbed rapidly up the leaderboard with his strongest round of the tournament. He made five birdies against just one bogey, picking up shots on the second, 11th, 13th, 15th, and 17th holes. A birdie on the closing 18th would have earned him a place inside the top 10, but he settled for par to finish tied 12th.

Talwar had opened the week with a three-under 69 before adding rounds of 71 and 70 to remain in contention heading into the final round. His closing 68 highlighted an encouraging return to form ahead of the coming weeks on the HotelPlanner Tour.

The tournament was won by American John Catlin, who claimed his maiden HotelPlanner Tour title after a marathon seven-hole playoff against Norway's Kristian Krogh Johannessen.

Catlin carded a bogey-free five-under 67 in the final round, while Johannessen fired a flawless six-under 66 to erase a one-shot overnight deficit. The Norwegian birdied the 16th and 17th holes to draw level after Catlin had held a two-shot advantage through 15 holes.

Both players parred the 18th to force a playoff and then matched each other with six consecutive pars before Catlin finally rolled in a birdie on the seventh extra hole to seal victory. The win was also the Americans' fifth National Open title.

The English Open, which returned to the golfing calendar for the first time in 24 years, featured a distinguished list of former champions, including Colin Montgomerie, Seve Ballesteros, Ian Woosnam and Darren Clarke, with Catlin now adding his name to that illustrious roll of honour.

England's Barclay Brown and Sweden's Per Längfors shared third place at 13-under-par, while Germany's Alexander Knappe and American Jhared Hack finished tied fifth at 12-under.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Golf has the potential to emerge as a major driver of tourism, investment, and economic activity in India while also serving as a sport that brings families together, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) CEO Amandeep Singh Johl said during the Raising An Athlete Sports Talk Series hosted by Equalsportz.

Speaking at a session titled "Understanding Emerging Sports in India", Johl urged parents to view golf as more than just a competitive sport and encouraged greater participation among children without the pressure of immediate success. “Golf has been part of me since the age of seven. Some call it a game, some a sport, some a social space, some a stage to network, and some a catalyst for growth. To me, it is all of the above,” Johl said.

Highlighting the values associated with the sport, he described integrity as golf's greatest lesson. “Golf is one of the games closest to life. You get good breaks and bad breaks, but you still have to play the ball as it lies,” he added.

Johl advised parents against introducing golf solely with the aim of producing champions. “Don’t teach anyone golf only to become a champion. Introduce them to the game and let them get to where they can get to. Golf is one of the greatest family sports, where grandparents, parents, and children can spend quality time together,” he said.

Calling for stronger infrastructure and wider accessibility, Johl said golf's contribution could extend well beyond the sporting arena.

“India needs more golf courses, more access, and more awareness. Golf can support tourism, real estate, investment, and economic activity. The potential is huge,” he said.

The session brought together experts from golf, chess, mixed martial arts, and squash to discuss emerging sporting opportunities for young athletes in India. Other panellists included International Master and FIDE Senior Trainer Vishal Sareen, Crosstrain Fight Club founder and CEO Siddharth Singh, and squash coach Dhruv Dhawan.

The panellists examined the evolving sports ecosystem in India, discussing issues such as parental support, coaching standards, financial challenges, athlete welfare, competition structures, and long-term development pathways.

They also highlighted the need for families to look beyond traditional sporting choices and explore disciplines gaining prominence through international competitions, professional leagues, and structured development systems.

The Raising An Athlete Sports Talk Series aims to provide a platform for parents, athletes, coaches, and experts to engage in informed discussions on sporting careers and help families make better decisions while supporting the next generation of Indian athletes.

Source: IANS

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Southampton (USA), June 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sahith Theegala emerged as the leading Indian-origin golfer at the halfway stage of the 2026 U.S. Open after producing one of the finest rounds of the day to surge into the Top-10 at Shinnecock Hills.

The Californian's composed three-under 67 lifted him from tied-49th overnight to tied-seventh at one-under-par, while fellow Indian-origin stars Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai also climbed the leaderboard with impressive second-round performances to remain firmly in contention heading into the weekend.

The strong showing by the trio ensured Indian-origin golfers remained a significant presence at one of golf's toughest tests, even as Wyndham Clark continued to dominate the championship with a record-setting performance.

Theegala recovered brilliantly after an opening-round 72, displaying patience and precision on a demanding Shinnecock layout. His second-round 67 was one of the top scores of the day and left him just six shots behind Clark, who established a commanding four-shot lead.

At the top of the leaderboard, Clark continued his remarkable form. The 2023 U.S. Open champion completed the suspended first round with two routine pars for a record-opening 64 before adding a one-under 69 to establish the lowest 36-hole score ever recorded at Shinnecock Hills.

Four shots behind him were 2022 US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Sam Stevens, and Tom Kim at three-under, while Collin Morikawa occupied sixth alone at two-under.

Starting on the back nine, Theegala wasted little time in making his move. He birdied the 10th and 12th holes before suffering his first setback with a bogey on the 15th. He immediately responded with a birdie on the 16th, only to give the shot back at the 17th, making the turn in one under.

On the inward nine, Theegala continued to battle the demanding conditions. A birdie on the fourth was cancelled by a bogey at the sixth, but he finished spectacularly with birdies on both the eighth and ninth holes. Those late gains capped a flawless finish and elevated him into a share of seventh place entering the weekend.

Akshay Bhatia also remained in an excellent position after posting a second successive even-par 70. The left-hander mixed four birdies with four bogeys to stay level-par for the tournament and occupy tied-11th alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.

Although Bhatia never quite found sustained momentum, his ability to limit mistakes on one of golf's most difficult courses kept him within striking distance of the leaders. Lying just in the Top-10, he remains well placed to mount a charge over the final two rounds.

Aaron Rai enjoyed one of the biggest jumps on the leaderboard among the Indian-origin contingent. After opening with a disappointing 74, the PGA Championship winner responded with a superb three-under 67 featuring five birdies against just two bogeys. His total of one-over-par placed him in tied-22nd alongside former Shinnecock course record-holder Tommy Fleetwood.

While three Indian-origin players advanced comfortably to the weekend, it was disappointment for Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Manav Shah, both of whom missed the cut in their U.S. Open appearances.

Yellamaraju finished at five-over-par after rounds of 73 and 72, while Manav Shah, playing in his maiden Major and becoming the first player from the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) to compete in one of golf's four biggest championships, signed for rounds of 73 and 74 to end at seven-over. Despite their early exits, both gained valuable experience competing against the world's best under typically demanding U.S. Open conditions.

Clark's second round featured three birdies and just one bogey as he finished at seven-under 133, eclipsing the previous halfway mark at the famed venue. A lengthy birdie putt on the 18th gave him a four-shot cushion heading into the weekend as he sought his second U.S. Open title.

Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Sam Stevens, and Tom Kim shared second place at three-under, while Collin Morikawa occupied sixth alone at two-under.

Scheffler, chasing the career Grand Slam, carded a two-under 68 to join Bhatia at even-par, while McIlroy slipped back after three consecutive bogeys on the back nine during a round of 71.

Several marquee names failed to survive the cut. Defending LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm exited early, with Rahm collapsing to a closing 78 after beginning the championship with a first-round 68. In contrast, Joaquin Niemann recovered from an extraordinary sequence that included a two-shot penalty and an opening-round 78 by firing a brilliant 65 to scrape into the weekend.

With only 10 players under par after 36 holes, Theegala, Bhatia, and Rai will now carry Indian-origin hopes into the closing two rounds at one of the sternest examinations in championship golf.

Source: IANS

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Varanasi, June 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Sunit Chowrasia of Kolkata carded a final-round of three-over 73 to secure a four-shot victory at the inaugural INR 25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen – Varanasi played at the BLW Greens Golf Course in Varanasi on Thursday.

Chowrasia (67-64-73) finished the week at six-under 204 to claim his third consecutive title on the DP World PGTI NexGen. The victory follows his triumphs at the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship hosted by Patna Golf Club in March and last week's Vijay Kumar Memorial in Lucknow, making him the first player in NexGen Tour history to win three consecutive events.

The win earned Chowrasia INR 3,17,875 and saw him emerge as the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit Champion with total season earnings of INR 10,04,393. Sunit thus secured an exemption on the DP World PGTI (Main Tour) for the 2027 season.

In addition, Sunit, nephew of the legendary SSP Chawrasia, equalled Mani Ram's record of three victories in a single NexGen season, a feat achieved by the latter in 2010.

Mathura's Mukeem Ali (67-68-73), one of the three overnight leaders after round one, finished tied second at two-under 208 alongside Kolkata's Souvik Nayak (69-69-70), who continued his consistent week with a closing round of 70.

Starting the final round from the first hole in the shotgun format, Chowrasia, playing his fifth event of the season, was tested throughout the day. He suffered a double bogey on the par-3 sixth and dropped another shot on the par-5 ninth during a difficult opening stretch. However, the Kolkata golfer showed maturity and composure under pressure, mixing two birdies with two further bogeys on his second nine to safely close out the title despite not having his best scoring day.

Reflecting on the victory, Chowrasia, who had set the course record of six-under 64 in Round Two, said, “It feels great. Securing my card for next season on the main tour is a big achievement and gives me a lot of confidence going forward. Now the focus shifts to preparing myself to compete consistently at that level and becoming a stronger player.”

The three-time winner credited his recent success to patience and trusting the process. “I'm obviously very happy with where my game is right now. The last few weeks have been special, and it's satisfying to see the hard work paying off. I've tried to keep things simple, trust my process and focus on playing one shot at a time,” he said.

The victory was particularly meaningful considering his journey back from injury. “The injury period was difficult because all I wanted to do was play golf. Watching friends and fellow professionals compete while I was sidelined wasn't easy, but I always believed I would come back. To be standing here now after everything I've gone through makes it even more rewarding.

“When I'm out on the golf course competing and enjoying myself, it feels special. If I compare where I was three years ago to where I am today, it's a completely different place, both physically and mentally.”

Looking ahead, Chowrasia added, “My immediate goal is to make the most of the opportunities on the main tour. I'll also be looking at the Asian Tour Qualifying School later in the year. For now, I'm enjoying this moment, but there's still a lot more I want to achieve. I thank my uncle SSP Chawrasia for standing by me and supporting me through the tough times,” he added.

Souvik Nayak and Mukeem Ali, the two joint runners-up, climbed up the leaderboard on the final day courtesy their scores of 70 and 73, respectively. However, they were unable to catch up with the overnight leader Chowrasia.

Local favourite Hemant Yadav (69-64-77), an employee of Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) who had matched the course record with a 64 in round two, slipped to a share of fourth place after a final-round 77. He finished at even-par 210 alongside Gurugram's Nikhil Sharma (68-74-68) and Delhi's Pawan Kumar (76-70-64).

Pawan Kumar produced one of the standout performances of the final day, matching the course record of six-under 64 earlier set by Chowrasia and equalled by Hemant Yadav.

Source: IANS

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Varanasi, June 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 31-year-old Sunit Chowrasia of Kolkata carded a course record score of six-under 64 to move into a two-shot lead at nine-under 131 after round two of the inaugural INR 25 lakh PGTI NexGen – Varanasi being played at the BLW Greens Golf Course in Varanasi on Wednesday.

Chowrasia (67-64), the current PGTI NexGen Order of Merit leader, arrived in Varanasi riding a wave of momentum after consecutive victories at the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship hosted by Patna Golf Club in March and last week's Vijay Kumar Memorial in Lucknow. The Kolkata golfer is now just one round away from completing a hat-trick of victories on the PGTI NexGen.

The 28-year-old Hemant Yadav (69-64), an employee of Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and playing on his home course, matched Chowrasia's newly established course record with a brilliant six-under 64. The Varanasi golfer climbed from tied sixth overnight to sole second at seven-under 133, narrowing the gap to just two shots heading into the final round.

Starting from the par-5 ninth in the shotgun format, Sunit Chowrasia made an early birdie before catching fire with four birdies in a five-hole stretch from the 14th through the 18th. Another gain on the par-4 fourth helped him sign for a new course record of six-under 64, also the joint-lowest round of the tournament, as he moved clear of overnight co-leaders Mukeem Ali of Mathura and Dipankar Kaushal of Noida.

“It feels great. Shooting six under is always satisfying, and I'm pleased with the way I played today. To be back at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round is a good position to be in,” said Chowrasia.

“A lot of the work I've been putting in, both on and off the course, is starting to pay off. The key now is not to change anything. I'll stick to the same process and approach that has worked well for me over the last few weeks.”

Asked about the prospect of a third straight title, he said, “Of course, it would be special, but the focus is on tomorrow's round. I'll try to play my game, stay patient, and think about celebrating only after the job is done.”

Chowrasia credited his driving and putting for his strong showing. “My driving has been the biggest strength this week. I've been putting the ball in the right positions off the tee, which has made the course much easier to play. My putting has also been solid, especially from the 10 to 15-foot range, and that's helped me convert chances at important moments.”

Varanasi-based professional Hemant Yadav, who started from the par-5 18th in the shotgun format, carded seven birdies against a lone bogey to surge into contention. Playing in his maiden season on the DP World PGTI after earning his card through Qualifying School in January, Hemant currently stands 12th on the NexGen Order of Merit, having already recorded four cuts and two top-10 finishes this season.

Reflecting on his round, Hemant said, “I felt I could have gone even lower because I missed a few makeable putts, but that's part of the game. A six-under round is always satisfying and gives me confidence going into the final day.”

Looking ahead, he added, “The goal tomorrow is simple — continue doing the same things well, stay patient and stick to the game plan.”

Overnight co-leader Mukeem Ali of Mathura (67-68) stayed in the hunt after a two-under 68 moved him to five-under 135 and third place. Starting from the par-4 first, Mukeem raced out of the blocks with an eagle on his opening hole and added five birdies, but three bogeys and a double bogey prevented him from keeping pace with the leaders.

Delhi's Pawan Verma (68-68) continued his consistent run with a second successive two-under 68 to occupy fourth place at four-under 136. Kolkata's Souvik Nayak (69-69) was fifth at two-under 138 after a second straight round of one-under 69. Dipankar Kaushal (67-75), one of the three overnight leaders, slipped to tied ninth at two-over 142 after a difficult second-round 75.

The cut fell at six-over 146, with 36 of the 72 players advancing to the final round.

The winner of this year’s NexGen Order of Merit will earn an exemption on the main tour (DP World PGTI) for the 2027 season.

Source: IANS

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Bengaluru, June 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amateur Zara Anand, who joins college in the United States later this year, continued to show that she is one of the most promising talents in the country as she shot 4-under 64 in the first round of the eighth Leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Bangalore Golf Club. Sharing the lead with Zara was Lavanya Jadon, who played the Singapore Ladies Masters last week.

With 4-under 64 each at the Par-68 course, the duo was one shot clear of Durga Nittur and Smriti Bhargav, who carded 3-under 65 each. Two other young stars, Anvvi Dahhiya and amateur Mahreen Bhatia, were tied fifth with 2-under 66 each in the event, carrying a purse of Rs. 17 lakh, which started with 57 players, but Jahanvi Bakshi withdrew due to medical reasons.

Zara began with three pars before faltering with bogeys on the next two holes. Then she made her recovery with back-to-back birdies on the sixth and the seventh and yet another one on the ninth to turn in 1-under. She maintained that momentum with a birdie on the tenth and three in a row from the 13th to the 15th. A late bogey on the 17th cost her sole leadership.

Lavanya also made a great comeback on the back nine. With one birdie on fourth and bogeys on the next two holes, she was 1-over for the front nine. She roared back with five birdies on the back nine, as she picked a hat-trick of gains from the 11th to the 13th and two more on the 16th and the 17th for a 64.

Nittur had three birdies on the front nine and three more on the back nine, but she also dropped three shots on the back nine. At one stage, Nittur was 5-under and may well have led the first round but for her back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and the 17th. Smriti had four birdies and one bogey in her 65.

Mahreen holed six birdies, but she also dropped shots on four holes, while Anvvi Dahhiya carded five birdies against three bogeys.

Three players, Mannat Brar, Karishma Govind, and amateur Ananyaa Sood, were tied seventh with rounds of 1-under 67, while four players, Jasmine Shekar, Kashika Misra, Nayanika Sanga, and Ayushi Dutta, scored even par 68 each to round off the Top-10.

Among the big names struggling on the first day were last week’s runner-up and 2025 Hero Order of Merit winner Vani Kapoor, who carded 4-over 72 with her only birdie coming on the 18th. She was T-34 alongside her good friend Amandeep Drall.

Ridhima Dilawari and Vidhtari Urs were T-14 with 1-over 69 each, as were Heena Kang and Neha Tripathi. Hero supported Tvesa Malik (70) was T-19.

Source: IANS

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Varanasi, June 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 31-year-old Sunit Chowrasia of Kolkata, 27-year-old Mukeem Ali of Mathura, and 39-year-old Dipankar Kaushal of Noida carded matching rounds of three-under 67 to share the first-round lead at the inaugural INR 25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen – Varanasi being played at the BLW Greens Golf Course.

Chowrasia, the current DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit leader, arrived in Varanasi on the back of consecutive victories at the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship hosted by Patna Golf Club in March and the Vijay Kumar Memorial in Lucknow last week. The Kolkata golfer mixed seven birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey on the par-4 10th to join the lead at three-under 67.

Reflecting on his round, Chowrasia said, “It feels good to be in a share of the lead. I started well, but the double bogey on the 10th checked my momentum a little. After that, I stayed patient, focused on my game plan, and managed to recover well.”

Playing in the afternoon wave, Chowrasia had to contend with hot and humid conditions. “It was much hotter and more humid than last week in Lucknow, so staying hydrated and managing my energy were important. Every course demands something different, and here the key is to keep the ball in play off the tee,” he added.

Mukeem Ali, who started from the par-4 fifth hole in the shotgun format, also posted a three-under 67 to grab a share of the lead. The Mathura golfer carded five birdies against two bogeys, with a decisive run of three consecutive birdies from the 16th through the 18th helping him climb to the top of the leaderboard.

Talking about his round, Mukeem said, “I putted really well today, and that made a big difference. My overall game was solid, and it&#39;s always nice when the putter starts working for you.”

Dipankar Kaushal, whose home course is Noida Golf Course, started from the par-3 eighth and produced a round featuring an eagle on the par-5 18th, four birdies, one bogey, and a double-bogey on the par-4 12th.

Despite these blemishes, Dipankar was pleased with his ball-striking. “I hit the ball really well and found 17 greens in regulation. The double-bogey was disappointing, but I recovered with an eagle and kept giving myself chances throughout the day. Overall, it was a solid round,” he said.

He was also impressed by the host venue. “I was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the course. It&#39;s in excellent shape, especially considering the weather. My approach for the rest of the week will be simple — keep hitting fairways and greens and take advantage of the opportunities,” Dipankar added.

Delhi’s Pawan Verma and Gurugram’s Nikhil Sharma shared fourth place at two-under 68. Kolkata’s Pratim Kumar and Souvik Nayak, along with local favourite Hemant Yadav of Varanasi, were a further shot back in tied sixth at one-under 69.

Scoring proved challenging for much of the field, with only 11 of the 72 players managing rounds of even-par 70 or better on the opening day. Imamul Haq, the other Varanasi-based professional in the field, shot a 73 to be tied 26th

The winner of this year’s NexGen Order of Merit will earn an exemption on the main tour (DP World PGTI) for the 2027 season.

The NexGen Tour was launched by the DP World PGTI in 2025 as its development tour with the objective of providing equal playing opportunities to all professional golfers of India and to increase the bench strength in Indian golf, which in turn increases competition and the level of golf.

The NexGen also aims to take professional golf to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India, thus expanding the reach of the sport within the country.

Source: IANS

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Bangalore, June 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Last week’s winner, Anvitha Narender, will skip the eighth leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT) at the Bangalore Golf Club, but the field of 57 players, including 12 amateurs, is still very strong.

The event, carrying a prize purse of Rs. 17 lakh, will feature the 2025 Order of Merit winner Vani Kapoor, who lost the play-off in Mysuru last week, the experienced Tvesa Mali, Ridhima Dilawari, Amandeep Drall, Neha Tripathi, Vidhatri Urs, and Seher Atwal. They will be among the front-runners this week. All of them have won in the past and are capable of taking the honours.

Vani Kapoor, who won five times in 2025, will start as a strong favourite, but a whole bunch of younger players are always a big threat.

The Next Gen of players like Mannat Brar, Heena Kang, and Jahanvi Bakshi are ready to spoil the party, and then there are a host of new professionals. Two of India’s most promising amateurs, Zara Anand and Mahreen Bhatia, are also among the dozen playing this week.

Last week saw Anvitha edge aside the star Vani Kapoor in the second play-off hole, while young amateur Ananyaa Sood performed very well in the early stages, as did Riya Jadon, who finished third.

With a big bunch of Indian women professionals also featuring on the Ladies European Tour and the LET Access Tour, the bench strength in women’s golf has improved manifold.

A perfect blend of youth and experience has led to a strong field and good scores on the Women’s Pro Golf Tour, which is now about two decades old and growing in strength each year.

Last week, Anvitha stayed composed under pressure at the finish and then prevailed in a tense playoff to capture her second title in the seventh leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club. The young Bengaluru golfer, Anvitha, showed great resilience to stage a back-nine recovery and then beat the seasoned Vani Kapoor in the second hole of the dramatic play-off.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) When Manav Shah tees off at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday for the U.S. Open, it will mark the realization of a dream years in the making. More than just a personal milestone, his appearance carries broader significance, it represents the aspirations of a growing generation of Indian-origin golfers, celebrates his Gujarati roots, and marks the first time a player associated with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) has competed in a Major championship.

Shah, whose family hails from Gujarat but who was born and raised in California, will be one of five Indian-origin golfers in the field at one of the sport's most prestigious events. He joins an elite group that includes Indo-British Aaron Rai, who last month became the first Indian-origin golfer to win a Major with his victory at the PGA Championship. Also in the field are PGA Tour winners Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala, along with Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju, who has enjoyed an impressive season that includes a top-five finish at THE PLAYERS.

For Shah, the journey to this stage has been anything but conventional.

Born to parents who emigrated from India in the 1980s, he grew up in a household where academics and professional careers were deeply valued. Like many Gujarati families, medicine was viewed as the traditional path to success.

"My extended family are in medicine," Shah said. "That was always kind of the Gujarati line of work in our household."

While his family envisioned another doctor, Shah found himself drawn to the golf course.

He enrolled at UCLA as a pre-med student, but his passion for golf gradually took precedence. Eventually, he shifted his academic focus, graduating with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. Fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Spanish, Shah embraced a different path, one that would ultimately lead him to professional golf.

Shah turned professional in 2015 after an accomplished collegiate career. He first played at UC San Diego during the 2010-11 season before transferring to UCLA, where he played for the Bruins from 2011 to 2015 after sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer regulations

His professional career has taken him across multiple tours, including PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour Americas, the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour, reflecting years of persistence in one of the world's most competitive sports.

Like many aspiring professionals, Shah's journey began far from the glamour associated with elite golf. He learned the game on public and municipal courses in Bakersfield, California, working his way through the developmental tours while navigating the setbacks that often define a golfer's career.

A breakthrough finally arrived in 2022 when he captured the PGA Tour Latinoamérica event in Quito, Ecuador—a circuit that has since merged into PGA Tour Americas.

The victory proved transformative. It validated years of hard work, strengthened his confidence and reinforced his belief that he could compete at the highest level. Looking back, Shah considers the triumph in Quito one of the defining milestones that eventually paved the way to Shinnecock Hills

Following that success, he began exploring opportunities in Asia and India, strengthening both his professional career and his connection to his heritage. Although his ultimate ambition remained the PGA Tour and the Majors, India increasingly became an important part of his golfing journey.

Despite growing up in the United States, Shah maintained close ties with his roots. His father is from Gujarat and his mother from Mumbai, and regular visits to India ensured that connection remained strong. Gujarati was spoken at home, helping preserve his cultural identity.

"India is very much home to me and it's amazing to be able to represent my culture at the U.S. Open."

That bond deepened through his involvement with the Asian Tour before he joined the Indian Golf Premier League, established in 2025 to create more opportunities for Indian and Indian-origin golfers worldwide. Although he is yet to win on the circuit, Shah has emerged as one of its standout performers.

"The players on the IGPL Tour were very welcoming," he said. "It also brought me closer to my roots and closer to my culture."

Earlier this year, circumstances unexpectedly worked in his favour. Stranded in India because of flight disruptions caused by the situation in the Middle East, Shah extended his stay, using the time to compete and practise on the IGPL, Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour.

That preparation was followed by the biggest challenge of his career—the notoriously demanding U.S. Open qualifying process.

Known across golf as "golf's toughest test," the two-stage qualifying format requires players to survive both local and final qualifying against exceptionally strong fields. Shah rose to the occasion, opening with a 68 at Pasatiempo Golf Club before producing a five-under-par 137 at Dallas Athletic Club to secure one of just nine qualifying spots for Shinnecock Hills.

His qualification also marked a landmark moment for the Indian Golf Premier League. Never before had a player associated with the league earned a place in a Major championship, making Shah's achievement significant not only for himself but also for the league's long-term vision of creating pathways for talented Indian and Indian-origin golfers.

"Manav is a prime example of dedication and perseverance. It is a proud moment for IGPL. I am sure this will inspire many other youngsters we have on the IGPL. The pathway we are creating will produce many more such stars in the years to come," said Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL and a former Asian Tour professional.

At Shinnecock Hills, Shah will share the fairways with many of the game's biggest names. During practice rounds, he has already had the opportunity to play alongside stars such as Tommy Fleetwood, who finished runner-up when the U.S. Open was last held at the iconic venue in 2018.

With expectations kept deliberately modest, Shah is focused less on results and more on embracing the occasion

"I want to stay calm and give my best."

Regardless of where he finishes this week, Shah has already secured his place in history. His journey from California's public golf courses to one of the sport's grandest stages stands as an inspiring story of perseverance, identity and ambition, one that could encourage many more Indian and Indian-origin golfers to believe that a place in the Majors is within reach.

Source: IANS

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Rabat (Morocco), June 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Experienced golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar emerged as the best-performing Indian at the International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco, closing with a final-round 1-over 73 to finish tied 31st at the US$2 million Asian Tour event.

Bhullar, one of India’s most decorated professionals with 11 Asian Tour victories and four AM Green IGPL wins, put together rounds of 70, 74, 68, and 73 for a four-day total of 6-under-par. Despite not being able to mount a challenge for the title over the weekend, the experienced golfer was the highest-placed Indian in a field that included several of the Tour’s leading names.

The final round proved challenging for the Indian contingent. Karandeep Kochhar, another winner on the AM Green Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), struggled to a closing 78 and slipped to tied 61st. Ajeetesh Sandhu also found conditions difficult and carded a 77 to finish alongside Kochhar in tied 61st position.

The week, however, highlighted the difficulty of the Moroccan layout, with seven other Indian players failing to make the cut after the opening two rounds. Bhullar’s consistency over four days ensured that India remained represented in the upper half of the leaderboard, even as several compatriots exited early.

The tournament produced a memorable winner in Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho. The 25-year-old secured his first International Series title and second Asian Tour victory after a composed final-round performance. Kho (68) finished at 19-under-par, edging out former Masters champion Bubba Watson (70) in a tense finish. Bubba Watson’s last win came in 2018.

Kho’s victory carried additional significance as it boosted him to second place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings and third in The International Series Rankings. The win also helped him recover from the disappointment of losing in a playoff on the Japan Golf Tour the previous week.

For India, the tournament offered a mixed outcome. Bhullar’s top-31 finish demonstrated his ability to remain competitive on demanding international layouts, while Kochhar and Sandhu will look to rebound quickly in upcoming events. With a busy stretch of tournaments ahead on the Asian Tour calendar, the Indian contingent will hope to convert promising performances into stronger finishes in the weeks to come.

Source: IANS

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Varanasi, June 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI) will make its debut in the historic city of Varanasi with the sixth event of the NexGen season scheduled to be played at the BLW Greens golf course from June 16 – 18, 2026.

The DP World PGTI’s first-ever tournament in Varanasi offers a prize purse of INR 25 lakh. The event will be played over three rounds (54 holes) with the cut being applied after two rounds (36 holes). The top-36 players and ties will make the cut for the third and final round.

The tournament features a field of 72 players. The leading players in the field are Sunit Chowrasia (2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit leader), Rajesh Kumar Gautam, Bipin Mukhiya, Abhishek Kumar, Aditya Raj Singh Chahal and Vinay Kumar Yadav as well as 15-year-old Arjunveer Shishir. The two Varanasi-based players in the field are Imam-ul-Haq and Hemant Yadav.

The winner of this year’s NexGen Order of Merit will earn an exemption on the main tour (DP World PGTI) for the 2026 season.

Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI, said, “Bringing a DP World PGTI NexGen event to Varanasi for the first time, which also happens to be the constituency of our esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is a proud moment for us. This event reflects our commitment to taking professional golf beyond the traditional centres and into the heart of India. Varanasi's rich heritage and passionate golfing community make it an ideal host, and we look forward to giving young professionals the platform they need to compete and grow. The tournament also seeks to further promote professional golf in Varanasi and inspire more youngsters in the city to take up the sport.”

Anurag Gupta, secretary, BLW Greens, said, “We are proud and delighted that BLW Greens, Varanasi, is hosting its first-ever DP World PGTI NexGen event. This is a landmark moment not only for our club but also for the growth of golf in Varanasi. Hosting a professional tournament of this stature places Varanasi on the national golfing map and provides local golf enthusiasts, young players, and the wider community with an opportunity to witness professional golf of the highest standard. We look forward to delivering an exceptional experience for the players, officials, partners, and spectators. We wish the players all the best.”

The Pro-Am event was played on Sunday, 14th June. The Pro-Am was won by the team consisting of professional Pankaj Maandiya and amateurs Manoj Manjhi, Ritesh Singh and Amit Verma. The winning team received their prizes from Mr. Anurag Gupta, Hon’ble Secretary, BLW Greens.

Source: IANS

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Rabat, June 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Gaganjeet Bhullar recorded his only bogey of the day on the final hole, the ninth, but still moved up significantly in the third round of the USD 2 million International Series Morocco.

Source: IANS

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Mysuru, June 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Anvitha Narender stayed composed under pressure at the finish and then prevailed in a tense playoff to capture her second title in the seventh leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club in Mysuru on Saturday.

The young Bengaluru golfer, Anvitha, showed great resilience to stage a back-nine recovery and then beat the seasoned Vani Kapoor in the second hole of the dramatic play-off. Anvitha carded 1-under 69 as Vani charged up with a 6-under 64, and both were tied at one-under 209. Anvitha birdied the second play-off hole to take the title.

With a strong back nine, Anvitha found herself in the lead at the Par-5 18th tee in regulation play. A little earlier, Vani had finished with a superb 6-under 64 round to set the target at 209.

Anvitha needed just a par on the final hole, but instead she dropped a shot and fell in a tie with Vani. Riya, playing in the final group, had bogeyed the 17th and needed a birdie to get into a play-off. She parred and finished at even par. In the first play-off hole on the Par-4 first, both Anvitha and Vani parred, leading to a second play-off hole, this time on the Par-4 fifth.

The momentum appeared to be with Vani after her stunning comeback, but Anvitha showed remarkable calm for a player still in the early stages of her professional career. After the first playoff hole failed to separate the two contenders, the battle moved to a second extra hole.

Anvitha, who had parred the fifth hole in regulation, picked a decisive birdie to deny Vani a remarkable comeback win. Vani, who had a birdie in regulation play, managed only a par.

That gave the 20-year-old New Jersey-born Anvitha her second win on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour. Her only previous success came in 2024.

Riya ended sole third at even par, while Khushi Khanijau turned in the second-best round of 68, to tie for fourth with Amandeep Drall (70) and Vidhatri Urs (70).

Earlier, starting the day in a three-way lead with Riya Jadon and amateur Ananyaa Sood, Anvitha was unable to find any birdies on the front nine and gave away a bogey. In contrast, rookie Riya Jadon, with two birdies and one bogey, was 1-under for the front nine and took the lead.

However, the star was Vani Kapoor, who, with five birdies and one bogey, played the stretch in 4-under and caught up with Anvitha.

Riya, though she was in the lead at the turn, was unable to find momentum on the back nine, and she bogeyed once without any birdies to finish at even par.

Anvitha birdied the 10th, 12th, and 13th and roared into contention, taking the lead. Vani, too, birdied the 11th and the 16th, but Anvitha was still one ahead. However, Anvitha bogeyed the 18th and dropped into a tie and was forced into a play-off, which she eventually won.

Overnight co-leader Ananyaa Sood, with two bogeys on the front nine, fell back and was unable to make up on the back nine, where she had two more bogeys, a double bogey, and just one birdie. She carded 75 and ended in a tie for seventh with Mannat Brar (70). Durga Nittur (74) was ninth.

A large group finished tied for 10th on 217, including Neha Tripathi, amateur Ceerat Kang, Ananya Garg, and Anvvi Dahhiya. Kashika Misra and Tvesa Malik shared 14th place on 218.

The result was a significant milestone in Anvitha’s development and underlines her growing stature on the domestic circuit. For Vani, the tournament ended in disappointment despite producing the best round of the week.

Source: IANS

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Ontario, June 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian-American star Sahith Theegala remains in contention at the Canadian Open despite surrendering his share of the lead during the second round. The golfer carded a 1-under 69 to reach 7-under for the tournament and Tied-13. He is just three shots behind the leader as the event heads into an intriguing weekend phase.

After an impressive opening-round 64 had propelled him into a share of the lead, Theegala faced a sterner challenge on Friday. While conditions and scoring opportunities were not as favourable, the 27-year-old showed resilience and ensured he stayed within striking distance of the leaders.

Starting on the front nine, Theegala looked set for another low round as he collected birdies at the third and seventh holes. His ball-striking remained solid for much of the day, but a pair of bogeys on the 10th and 15th holes halted his momentum and briefly pushed him back toward the pack. Refusing to let the round slip away, he produced a timely birdie at the closing 18th hole to sign for a 69 and maintain his place among the contenders.

At 7-under 133 after 36 holes, Theegala is tied for 13th place and well positioned to launch an attack over the final two rounds. With several players tightly packed near the top of the leaderboard, a strong moving day could quickly propel him back into title contention.

Another player with Indian roots, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, also enjoyed a productive day and comfortably secured a weekend berth. The Canadian golfer fired a 4-under 66, one of the better rounds among the chasing pack, to climb to 5-under overall and a share of 28th place.

Yellamaraju recovered impressively after an early bogey on the third hole. He birdied the first, fourth and ninth holes on the outward half before adding further gains at the 15th and 18th. His composed performance ensured he advanced to the final two rounds with confidence.

The news was less encouraging for PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai. The Englishman of Indian heritage narrowly missed the cut after an even-par 70 left him at 1-under for the week, one shot short of the required mark. Rai appeared poised to make the weekend after a birdie on the 16th hole, but a costly bogey on the 17th proved decisive. A closing birdie was not enough to extend his stay in Canada.

Also failing to progress was Indo-Canadian qualifier Jeevan Sihota, whose 72 left him at 3-over for the tournament.

At the top of the leaderboard, PGA Tour rookie Ben James emerged as the surprise leader. The young American produced a flawless 7-under 63 featuring an eagle and five birdies to move to 10-under overall. Five players, including Sam Burns and Haotong Li, were a shot behind him on 9-under.

With Theegala only three strokes off the lead and showing flashes of the form that earned him early control of the tournament, the weekend promises an exciting opportunity for the Indian-American star to challenge for another significant PGA Tour title.

Source: IANS

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Rabat (Morocco), June 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ajeetesh Sandhu with a bogey free 3-under 70 became the top Indian at the halfway stage of the US$2 million International Series Morocco. Sandhu, who shot 1-under 72 in the first round is now 4-under and Tied-25th, as four-time IGPL winner, Gaganjeet Bhullar (74) slipped down to T-47 despite a run of four straight birdies on the front nine.

Another IGPL winner, Karandeep Kochhar (72-72) at T-47 was the only other Indian to make the cut.

Seven of the 10 Indians, who started missed the cut and they included Shauryra Bhattacharya, SSP Chawrasia and Anirban Lahiri missing the mark by one shot. Rashid Khan, Aryan Roopa Anand and Udayan Mane were the others to make an early exit.

Meanwhile, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson joined Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert on top of the leaderboard.

The 47-year-old Watson played great golf to overcome the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam’s Red Course. He carded a seven-under par 66, the lowest round of the day and caught up with Pavit, who closed with a three-under par 70 to tie at 11-under 135 total.

Watson hit 15 of the 18 fairways and made eight birdies against a solitary bogey.

Sandhu birdied the fifth, 11th and the 12th and did not drop any shots, while.

Bhullar starting from the tenth had three bogeys against one birdie on the stretch. He then had a double bogey on the Par-3 second and was 3-over at that stage. He fought back with four birdies in four holes from the fifth but dropped a shot on the ninth, his closing hole for a 74.

Leaders, Watson and Pavit, were one ahead of Korea’s Younghan Song (69) who was 10-under.

Australia’s Travis Smyth (70), International Series Japan champion and the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, moved to a tie for fourth place in the clubhouse at nine-under par alongside defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe (67) and the in-form Taichi Kho of Hong Kong (69).

The Thai duo of Jazz Janewattananond (67), champion of the inaugural International Series Morocco, and Suteepat Prateeptienchai (69) were tied at eight-under.

Watson’s last win was on the PGA Tour at the Travelers Championship in June 2018.

His ball-striking was good and he putted superbly needing just 26 putts.

Pavit did not have the best start as two bogeys in the first eight holes left him one-over par, but just like the opening round, when he made four birdies in his last four holes, he managed to pick up strokes on the 17th and 18th holes for his three-under-par 70.

Mehdi El Fakori was the only Moroccan player to make the cut with rounds of 74 and 70.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) A phenomenal week of competitive golf concluded at the iconic Delhi Golf Club on Friday as the final round of the 24th NCR Cup Junior Golf Tournament, which attracted participation from across India, drew to a thrilling close.

The event saw participation of golfers representing Delhi NCR, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, along with an international participant from Dubai.

The prestigious three-day event - affiliated with the Indian Golf Union (IGU) and offering crucial World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points - saw the marquee Category A and B divisions complete their gruelling 54-hole test on the historic Lodhi Course, while Categories C, D, and E wrapped up their high-stakes final rounds on the technical, 9-hole Peacock Course.

The tournament concluded with a grand prize ceremony where division winners were awarded premium prize vouchers worth Rs. 20,000 each, capping off an incredibly successful edition that hosted over 160 of India's finest junior talents.

In Boys' Category A, 15-18 years, overnight leader Anas Khan cruised to an emphatic victory. Despite a demanding final round where he shot a 6-over par, the massive advantage he built over the first two days -- headlined by an opening-round hole-in-one -- allowed him to claim the title by a staggering 13 strokes. Anas Khan also received a prize of Rs. 10,000 for his hole-in-one on Day 1.

Behind him, a thrilling four-way logjam emerged for the runner-up spot between Siddhaan Chhibber, Devvrat Singh Rajawat, Anshh Dubey, and Ayaan Dubey. Ultimately, it was Siddhaan Chhibber who snatched second place honours by virtue of a superior countback score on the back nine.

In Girls' Category A, local favourite Ayesha Gupta put on a spectacular masterclass in consistency. Firing rock-solid rounds of 77, 75, and 75, Gupta comfortably secured the championship trophy ahead of Apeksha Grace David, who put up a spirited fight to finish second.

Pandey dominates Category B

The Boys' Category B, 13-14 years, belonged entirely to Chaitanya Pandey. Delivering a brilliant performance under extreme pressure, Pandey dominated his field with a winning margin of eight strokes, posting a remarkably consistent scorecard of 72, 74, and 74. Sakshit Purendre and first-round leader Aditya Misra finished tied for the second position at 12-over par for the three days.

In a spectacular achievement, Pandey's clinical performance also earned him the coveted Overall Combined Prize for Category A & B Boys. On the girls' side, Anushka Gupta played superbly strategic golf to capture the Overall Combined Category A & B Girls crown.

Peacock Course: Sub-Juniors Deliver Dramatic, Down-to-the-Wire Finishes The final round for the younger categories on the Peacock Course saw leaderboards flip and ties broken by razor-thin margins.

Alvi tops Category C, 11-12 years

Boys' section: In an incredibly tight battle, Shan Alvi mounted a brilliant charge to win by a lone stroke, shooting matching rounds of 3-over par on both days to finish 6-over total. Overnight leader Mohd. Rehan, who shot 2-over on Day 1 and 5-over on Day 2, finished a close second, with Avviraaj Kalia securing a hard-earned third place.

Girls section: Aaradhya Rawat showed incredible composure under pressure to claim the title by a single shot, finishing 9-over par across the two days. She held off Unnati Singh, who took second at 10-over par, followed by Chandigarh's Arushi Sharma in third.

Category D, 9-10 Years

Boys: Priyansh Jain was unstoppable, firing brilliant level-par rounds on both days to storm to an 8-stroke victory. A tense tie for second between Shan Mohd. And Jamraudh Singh Sidhu was decided by a dramatic countback, with Shan Mohd. clinching the runner-up spot due to a lower score on the final six holes.

Girls: Naaysha S. Sinha stole the show on Friday, firing a sensational 2-under par round to finish 1-over total and win by four strokes. Opening-day co-leader Aarya Ganguly took a solid second place at 5-over par. A tie for third between Juno Kalyani and Suhani Chandra went in favour of Kalyani, who carded a better final-day score.

Category E, Under 9 Years

Boys: Viraj Krishan Chaudhri scripted the comeback of the day, lighting up the Peacock Course with a brilliant 2-under par final round to claim the championship at 2-over total. Overnight leader Jordan Savio George dropped into a three-way tie for second alongside Naksh Malhotra and Keeon Aggarwal; a final-day countback placed Malhotra in second and Aggarwal in third.

Girls: Manasvi Rathor proved to be the epitome of consistency, shooting level-par rounds on both days to clear the field by a massive six strokes. Devyani Dhull finished securely in second place at 6-over par overall, followed by Aadya Dayal in third at 10-over par for the tournament.

Source: IANS

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Ontario, June 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala produced one of his best rounds of the season to move into a share of the lead after the opening day of the RBC Canadian Open, offering further signs that his game is trending in the right direction ahead of next week’s U.S. Open.

Theegala fired a flawless-looking 6-under 64 at TPC Toronto, joining a six-way tie for first place alongside Major champion Brooks Koepka, Sam Burns, Emiliano Grillo, Eric Cole, and Matthew Anderson. It marked one of Theegala’s strongest starts of 2026 and underlined the progress he has been making despite a run of results that has not always reflected the quality of his play.

Among the other players of Indian origin in the field, Aaron Rai and Sudarshan Yellamaraju opened with identical rounds of 1-under 69 and were positioned well inside the chasing pack. Canadian qualifier Jeevan Sihota, making his PGA Tour debut, carded a 1-over 71 and had work to do going into the second round.

While the leaderboard was tightly packed, Theegala’s performance stood out because of the composure he displayed after a tricky beginning. Starting his round on the 10th hole, he was immediately tested when his approach narrowly avoided finding water. A brilliant chip-in helped him save the situation and set the tone for a resilient day.

Although he dropped a shot at the 11th, Theegala quickly responded with a birdie at the next hole and added another gain at the 18th to turn in 2-under. He then accelerated on his second nine, collecting birdies at the first, second, sixth, and eighth holes to complete an impressive round of 64.

Reflecting on his performance, Theegala credited his short game for keeping the round together during the early stages.

“My whole game felt really nice,” he said. “I didn’t strike it that well at the start, and my short game really saved me. Once I settled in after a few holes, I started hitting the ball much better, and things became a lot more comfortable.”

The Hero-supported golfer explained that the conditions were more challenging than the scores suggested. Strong crosswinds and the tree-lined nature of the course often made judging shots difficult.

According to Theegala, the wind was deceptive because players could not always feel its strength from the fairways. Once the ball climbed above the tree line, however, it could be pushed significantly off its intended path. Combined with sloping greens, the course demanded total commitment on every shot.

Despite not producing many headline finishes this season, Theegala believes his game has remained close to a breakthrough. “I think the results over the last couple of months haven’t been great, but the golf has been there,” he said. “You have to stay positive. I’m making a lot of cuts, which means something is working. You just keep believing and keep moving forward.”

Elsewhere, Koepka also impressed, birdieing four of his final five holes to join the lead group. The former U.S. Open champion continues to search for a deep PGA Tour run since returning to a fuller schedule.

With six players sharing the lead at 64 and a dozen competitors posting rounds of 65 or better, the tournament remains wide open. For Indian golf followers, however, the biggest takeaway from day one was Theegala’s return to the forefront, a timely confidence boost as the season heads into one of its most important stretches.

Source: IANS

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Rabat, June 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) It was a tale of contrasting nines for Gaganjeet Bhullar, who produced a 3-under 70 in the opening round of the US$2 million International Series Morocco. After looking set for a low number with four birdies in five holes of the latter half of the front nine for a 4-under 32, the IGPL star gave away three bogeys on the back nine for a 38.

The four-time IGPL winner, Bhullar, who is also the most successful Indian player in Asian Tour history with 11 wins, is now Tied-18th. He is the best among the 10 Indians playing this week at the par-73 Red Course of Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.

Bhullar trails the Thai star Pavit Tangkamolprasert, the runner-up at the International Series Japan earlier this year, who shot 8-under 65. Pavit was two ahead of Travis Smyth (67), who was the winner in Japan. Smyth was tied for second position alongside Korean Younghan Song, who was bogey-free in his 67.

While Bhullar was T-18, the next best Indians were Karandeep Kochhar, Shaurya Bhattacharya, SSP Chawrasia, and Ajeetesh Sandhu, all of whom shot 1-under 72 each to be T-40. Anirban Lahiri, the only Indian on the LIV League, carded even par 73 and was T-60.

Rashid Khan (75) was T-108, Shubham Jaglan (76) was T-123, Aryan Roopa Anand (80) was T-152, and Udayan Mane (83) was T-155, and all of them will need very low second rounds to have a chance to stay on for the weekend.

Bhullar, whose last Asian Tour win came in the second half of 2023 in his favourite country, Indonesia, has played only three World Ranking events with a T-26 in Singapore as his best. He was T-27 at the AM Green IGPL Bharath Classic last week in Morocco, but at the Mazagan Beach Golf Resort.

Bhullar opened with four pars before finding his first birdie. He parred the sixth and then had a hat-trick of birdies to turn in 4-under. On the back, yet another gain on the 12th hole saw him rise to 5-under. Then came the downturn as he dropped shots on the 13th, 15th, and 17th. He closed with a consolation birdie to card 70.

Karandeep Kochhar rode a roller-coaster. He bogeyed his first three holes before finding his first par. Then he had a superb run of four birdies in four holes and parred the ninth to be 1-under at the turn. On the back nine, he bogeyed the 10th and birdied the 17th to stay at 1-under for the day.

Pavit started on the back nine of the course and made four birdies before the turn. He then made five pars on the trot, before scripting a superb finish of four straight birdies.

Smyth, who has won twice this year at The International Series Japan and on the PGA Tour of Australasia, has also played a couple of events on LIV Golf, standing in for an injured Paul Casey in Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC.

American Andy Ogletree, who has three International Series titles, showed a return to form with a storming finish that included an eagle-birdie finish in his five-under 68.

He was joined at 68 by Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, runner-up last week on the Japan Golf Tour, Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, and American Grant Haefner. Defending champion Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe started with a three-under 70.

Among the various LIV Golf stars in the field, Bubba Watson shot a four-under 69, while Korea Golf Club’s Doyeob Mun was tied 18th with a 70. Sergio Garcia had a rough day with 74.

Source: IANS

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Mysuru, June 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Riya Jadon, who turned professional this season, was the standout performer on the opening day of the 7th Leg of the Women’s Pro Golf Tour at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club in Mysuru on Thursday. The teenager, who is barely 17, closed the first day with two birdies to card 3-under 67 and take the pole position.

The Gurugram golfer, who trains at the DLF Golf Academy, was one stroke ahead of the experienced Tvesa Malik, a Hero-supported golfer who carded 68. Anvvi Dahhiya and Vidhatri Urs were the only other golfers to come under par with 69 each at the Par-70 layout.

Two others, Amandeep Drall and Karishma Govind, shot even par 70 each.

Riya, who won the IGU Pune Ladies Championship in November 2025, turned pro earlier this season and finished Tied-third at the third leg in Oxford Golf Resort, Pune, when Tvesa Malik emerged winner. Riya opened the day with a birdie before she bogeyed the sixth and birdied the seventh to turn in 1-under. On the back nine, she parred the first seven holes and closed birdie-birdie.

Tvesa also opened with a birdie but suffered back-to-back bogeys on the fourth and the fifth to go one-over. She hit back with three birdies on the back nine for a 68.

Both Anvvi Dahhiyya and Vidhatri Urs had three birdies against two bogeys each for scores of 69.

Amandeep had four birdies, but she dropped a double bogey and two bogeys, one of which came on the 18th. Karishma had three birdies and three bogeys. They were tied fifth.

Neha Tripathi, Ananya Garg, Durga Nittur, and amateur Ananyaa Sood were tied for seventh at 71 each.

Among the well-known names lying further down were Vani Kapoor (72) in T-11, amateur Zara Anand, and Seher Atwal with 73 each in T-16. Mannat Brar (76) was T-30.

Three-time winner this season, Ridhima Dilawari had a disappointing start with 77 that included three bogeys and two double bogeys.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Windswept conditions and high stakes tested the grit of India's finest young golfers on Day 2 of the 24th NCR Cup Junior Golf Tournament at the Delhi Golf Club. With valuable World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points on the line, the marquee Category A and B divisions battled the championship Lodhi Course, while the sub-junior categories commenced their campaigns on the picturesque, 9-hole Peacock Course.

Anas Khan is the son of a caddy.

Category A: Khan extends staggering advantage

​Following his first-round hole-in-one, overnight leader Anas Khan showed absolutely no signs of slowing down in Boys' Category A (15–18 years). Khan put together a masterful, disciplined level-par round of 72 to extend his command over the field, building a massive 8-stroke cushion heading into the next phase of play.

​The biggest movement on the leaderboard came from Ranveer Singh Dhupia. Staging an incredible second-day comeback, Dhupia carded an exceptional level-par 72 of his own, catapulting himself straight into second place. Ayan Dubey sits alone in third position, keeping himself in the hunt with a two-day combined score of 154*.

​In Girls' Category A, local favourite Ayesha Gupta mounted an excellent charge. Shaking off the tough layout, she carded a brilliant 3-over par round to seize total control of the division, opening up a comfortable 6-stroke advantage over her closest competitors.

​Category B: Pandey braves the wind

​The narrative flipped dramatically in Boys' Category B (13–14 years) as gusty, swirling winds swept across the Lodhi Course. Chaitanya Pandey showcased immense tactical composure, firing a resilient 2-over par round to break away from the field. His poise under pressure earned him a 3-stroke lead over overnight leader Aditya Misra, setting up a thrilling duel for the final rounds.

​Sub-Juniors set Peacock Course ablaze on opening day

​Thursday marked the highly anticipated opening round for the younger brackets—Category C (11–12 years), Category D (9–10 years), and Category E (Below 9 years)—staged on the tight and technical Peacock Course.

​Category C (11–12 Years)

​Boys: Mohd. Rehan navigated the 9-hole layout beautifully, shooting a sharp 2-over par to claim a narrow 1-stroke lead over Shan Alvi. Chandigarh’s Viraj Sehgal remains hot on their heels in third place.

​Girls: A dead-heat emerged at the top of the leaderboard, with Aaradhya Rawat locked in a tense tie with Unnati Singh for the lead after carding a 4-over par 66. They are closely pursued by Chandigarh’s Arushi Sharma, who finished just two shots back with a 68.

​Category D (9–10 Years)

​Boys: Priyansh Jain put on a clinic, shooting an exceptional level-par round to command the top spot. Yashaswin Sanghi holds second place at 2-over par, followed closely by Leyan Pal at 3-over par.

​Girls: The division is a mirror image of intensity, with Aarya Ganguly and Naaysha S. Sinha sitting in a dead tie for the lead at 3-over par, with Suhani Chandra securely holding the third spot.

​Category E (Under 9 Years)

​Boys: Jordan Savio George set the pace early, grinding out an impressive 1-over par round to secure a slim 1-stroke lead over Keeon Aggarwal. A three-way logjam features Siddhik Chaturvedi, Aprateem, and Naksh Malhotra all tied for third.

​Girls: Manasvi Rathor fired a flawless level-par performance to bag a 1-stroke advantage over a surging Aadya Dayal, who carded a fighting 1-over par. Devyani Dhull currently holds third place after carding a 4-over par.

The tournament is being staged at the iconic Delhi Golf Club, widely regarded as one of Asia’s finest golfing venues and the home of many of India’s most prestigious golf championships. The club has a rich history of hosting leading international and national events and was the venue for the inaugural DP World India Championship last year, a landmark tournament that attracted some of the biggest names in world golf, including Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, June 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 31-year-old Sunit Chowrasia of Kolkata carded a final-round one-under 69 to secure a three-shot victory at the inaugural INR 25 lakh PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial played at the Lucknow Golf Club in Lucknow on Thursday.

Chowrasia (70-62-69), the nephew of Indian golfing stalwart SSP Chawrasia, entered the final day with a two-shot advantage following his bogey-free eight-under 62 in round two and closed the week at nine-under 201 to lift the trophy.

The victory marked the Kolkata golfer's second title of the season and his second consecutive win on the DP World PGTI NexGen, having also triumphed at the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship hosted by Patna Golf Club in March before the DP World PGTI NexGen tour's two-month break.

Starting from the par-4 first hole in the shotgun format, Chowrasia endured a shaky beginning with a bogey on his opening hole. However, he quickly regained control with birdies on the par-5 third and par-4 fifth. In a roller-coaster final round that featured five birdies and four bogeys, Chowrasia managed to stay ahead of the chasing pack and seal the title.

Reflecting on his victory, Chowrasia said, “It feels amazing to win back-to-back tournaments. It was a little nerve-racking out there today, especially on the back nine, but in the end, it was worth every shot. I'm really happy to get another win and continue the momentum.”

He added, “The start wasn't ideal, but I stayed patient and recovered well with birdies on the third and fifth. There were a few momentum swings during the round, but I managed to make some important up-and-downs and stay focused under pressure.”

The win earned Sunit Chowrasia INR 3,17,875 and propelled him from sixth to the top of the DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit with season earnings of INR 6,86,518 from four starts.

Speaking about moving to the top of the standings, Chowrasia said, “I honestly wasn't aware that I had moved to the top of the rankings. It's nice to hear that, but there is still one more tournament left, and my focus remains on continuing to play good golf and taking it one event at a time.”

The win also marked another milestone in Chowrasia's comeback from injury. “Coming back from injury has been a long journey. When I look at where I was three years ago and where I am today, it's a completely different situation and mindset. I'm grateful to be healthy again, competing well and seeing the hard work pay off,” he said.

Chowrasia also revealed that one of the first calls after his victory was with his famous uncle SSP Chawrasia, an Olympian and six-time international winner, who has played a key role in supporting him through his career.

“I spoke to my uncle, SSP Chawrasia, shortly after the round, and he was very happy for me. He’s currently playing in Morocco and took time out to congratulate me. He has always been a great source of support, especially during the difficult periods when I was dealing with injuries. It means a lot to have his encouragement and to be able to share this win with him,” Chowrasia said.

The 41-year-old Pawan Kumar of Delhi (67-68-69) also returned a one-under 69 to climb from overnight third to finish runner-up at six-under 204. Pawan earned INR 2,67,875 and moved to 10th on the NexGen Order of Merit with season earnings of INR 2,98,563 from two appearances.

Lucknow's Rajesh Kumar Gautam (68-69-68) secured a solo third-place finish at five-under 205. The 37-year-old local professional collected INR 1,70,375 and climbed to second on the NexGen Order of Merit with season earnings of INR 6,81,060. Gautam now trails Chowrasia by just INR 5,458, setting up a fascinating battle for the top spot heading into the final event of the season.

Delhi's Ajay Baisoya (68-70-68) registered his best result of the season, finishing fourth at four-under 206 in only his second appearance of the year. Another Delhi golfer, Wasim Khan (71-68-68), finished fifth at three-under 207.

The winner of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit will earn an exemption on the main tour for the 2027 season. The tour now moves to Varanasi for the inaugural INR 25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen – Varanasi 2026, scheduled to be played from June 16-18.

Launched in 2025, the DP World PGTI NexGen Tour serves as the developmental circuit of Indian professional golf. The tour aims to provide increased playing opportunities to professionals, strengthen the competitive depth of Indian golf, and expand the sport’s footprint by hosting events in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across the country.

Source: IANS

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Rabat, June 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Aryan Roopa Anand, who made a breakthrough in the Indian golf scene with consecutive victories at the prestigious All India Amateur titles, finally secured a win in professional golf at the scenic Lubumbashi Golf Course in Congo during the IGPL Tour.

Rabat, June 11 (IANS) Aryan Roopa Anand, who made a breakthrough in the Indian golf scene with consecutive victories at the prestigious All India Amateur titles, finally secured a win in professional golf at the scenic Lubumbashi Golf Course in Congo during the IGPL Tour.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, June 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 31-year-old Sunit Chowrasia of Kolkata fired a bogey-free eight-under 62 to surge into a two-shot lead after round two of the inaugural Rs 25 lakh DP World PGTI NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial being played at Lucknow Golf Club in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Chowrasia (70-62), the nephew of Indian golfing legend SSP Chawrasia, who had shot an opening round of 70, climbed from tied 13th to the top of the leaderboard at a total score of eight-under 132. The Kolkata golfer, currently sixth on the PGTI NexGen Order of Merit, produced the lowest round of the tournament with eight birdies and no bogeys on Wednesday.

Overnight leader Abhishek Kumar (65-69) of Panchkula slipped to second place at six-under 134 after carding a second successive bogey-free round of one-under 69.

Chowrasia, winner of the last NexGen event, the Alpha Sports Academy Golf Championship hosted by Patna Golf Club, started his round from the par-4 ninth in the shotgun format. He picked up three birdies on his opening nine before catching fire on his second nine, where he added five more birdies, including four consecutive gains from the third through the sixth hole.

Chowrasia, now looking to win back-to-back titles on the NexGen, said, “I got off to a steady start and was three-under through my first nine holes. The momentum really picked up on the second nine, where I made four consecutive birdies from the third to the sixth,” Sunit said. “I kept the ball in play, gave myself plenty of opportunities, and was able to convert the chances I created.”

He added, “I hit my irons particularly well, especially on the par-3s, where I was able to get the ball close to the flag. Most of my birdies came from good approach shots that left me relatively short putts.”

The 24-year-old Abhishek Kumar, who won the season-opening NexGen event in Faridabad, currently ranks fourth on the Order of Merit. Abhishek admitted patience was crucial on a day when he frequently had to recover from difficult positions.

Abhishek said, “The course tested my patience today. There were a few holes where I found myself in tricky spots, including one on the sixth where I was blocked by a tree, but I managed to recover well and stay patient throughout the round.”

Looking ahead to the final round, Abhishek added, “This event is special because it carries Vijay Kumar's name. He always encouraged and guided young players, so it would be very meaningful to do well here.”

The 41-year-old Pawan Kumar of Delhi followed up his opening-round 67 with a two-under 68 to move into sole third place at five-under 135. Noida's Bipin Mukhiya (70-67), the current NexGen Order of Merit leader, Lucknow's Rajesh Kumar Gautam (68-69), who currently ranks third on the NexGen standings, and fifteen-year-old Arjunveer Shishir (69-68) of Panchkula shared fourth place at three-under 137. Rishi Kumar of Lucknow was the other local player in the top-10 as he was placed tied seventh at two-under 138.

The 36-hole cut fell at six-over 146, with 39 of the 71 players advancing to the final round.

The winner of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit will earn an exemption on the main tour for the 2027 season.

Source: IANS

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Rabat, June 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) After two weeks in Morocco playing at the Mazagan Beach Golf Resort, Karandeep Kochhar arrives at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam for the International Series Morocco. He has been in great form, with three top-10 finishes in just five Asian Tour events this season, and currently stands at Tied-12th.

Kochhar, 26, finished tied for ninth at last week’s IGPL Bharath Classic, following a tied-for-fifth at the International Series Japan and fourth at the Philippine Golf Championship. Late last year, he won the Egypt Golf Series Red Sea Open on the Asian Development Tour.

Kochhar is among the 10 Indians participating in the $2 million high-profile event. The group also includes Anirban Lahiri and IGPL’s star player Gaganjeet Bhullar, along with other IGPL stars such as Aryan Roopa Anand, Udayan Mane, and SSP Chawrasia.

The Indian team also features Rashid Khan, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Ajeetesh Sandhu, and Shubham Jaglan.

A confident Kochhar said, “I think I’ve been playing really well this year. I’ve only played five events so far and I’ve already had three top-10 finishes, so that’s definitely encouraging. Even in the other events, I felt like I was playing solid golf. In New Zealand, I just had a poor Sunday, and in Singapore I wasn’t playing my best, but I still managed to make the cut, which I was happy about.”

Over the past three weeks, Kochhar has tested that consistency as he competed through Morocco’s distinctive professional golf swing, starting from the Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour and culminating in this week’s International Series Morocco presented by Visit Morocco. He participated in all three events and acknowledged that it has been physically demanding, especially given the tough coastal conditions at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort.

“It’s definitely been a bit taxing. The last two weeks at Mazagan were tough because it’s such a windy golf course, and playing in those conditions takes a lot more energy out of you,” he said. “I’m definitely feeling a little tired, but I keep reminding myself how important, and potentially life-changing, this tournament is. I’ll have a long break after this week, so it’s worth giving everything I’ve got.”

Kochhar’s performances have established him as the top Indian player in events organized jointly by the Asian Tour and the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL), a role he is very proud of.

“There’s so much talent on the IGPL Tour and in Indian golf in general, so it was great to see the IGPL and Asian Tour come together for this partnership. I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to do well and finish as the top Indian player recently, and I definitely take pride in that. Of course, you always want to finish high on the leaderboard overall, but there’s also a part of me that wants to be the best Indian finisher each week,” he said.

This week’s International Series field also provides Kochhar with another exciting opportunity to spend time with Indian golfing legend Anirban Lahiri. The two were already engaging in some friendly competition even before the tournament week officially started.

“We actually had a little seven-hole match today. Me and Aryan (Roopa Anand) versus Anirban and Shaurya (Bhattacharya),” Kochhar said with a smile. “Aryan and I were two down with two holes to play, but I birdied the last two holes to halve the match. I was pretty happy about that.”

Kochhar also values the opportunity to learn from one of India’s most accomplished golfers.

“Honestly, it’s amazing having Anirban here. It means a lot for all of us when someone with his experience comes out to The International Series and spends time playing practice rounds with us. He has so much knowledge from playing on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf over the years, and you can learn so much just being around him. Right now, he’s carrying the Indian flag in global golf, and he’s an amazing role model, not just as a player, but as a person too.

“We’re all really happy to have him here, and hopefully I get to play some more rounds with him this week,” he stated.

Source: IANS

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