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Indian golf sensation Gaganjeet Bhullar lived up to his pre-tournament favorite status, sealing a triumphant win with an impeccable, error-free final round of six-under 66 at the PGTI Tour Championship 2023. The season-ending event, boasting an INR 3 crore prize, unfolded across the Beldih and Golmuri Golf Courses.
Chandigarh-based Bhullar, a 12-time international winner, demonstrated his prowess, claiming victory for the second time in the Tour Championship after his earlier triumph in 2020. Bhullar’s stellar performance accumulated to an impressive 25-under 263 for the week, securing the substantial winner’s cheque of INR 45 lakh, the largest on the PGTI.
Rahil Gangjee, with a final-round score of 67, secured the runner-up position at 24-under 264. Bengaluru-based Gangjee’s prize money of INR 30 lakh elevated him 26 spots in the PGTI Order of Merit, finishing the year in sixth place.
Angad Cheema from Chandigarh claimed a commendable third place at 23-under 265 in Jamshedpur, marking a notable ascent in the money list to finish the year in fifth place.
Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, clinched the coveted No. 1 spot in the PGTI Ranking, concluding the Tour Championship tied at 10th with a score of 15-under 273. Chouhan’s record-breaking season earnings of INR 1,18,26,059 set a new benchmark, surpassing the previous record held by Manu Gandas in 2022. Chouhan’s outstanding performance, including four titles and numerous top-10 finishes, earned him the distinction of being the first player to surpass the INR 1 crore mark in a single PGTI season. His triumph secures a card on the DP World Tour for the 2024 season.
In the PGTI Ranking, Patna’s Aman Raj secured the second position with season earnings of INR 91,90,745. Aman claimed tied seventh place at 16-under 272 in Jamshedpur.
Bhullar’s wire-to-wire victory was marked by a final round that included an eagle and four birdies, demonstrating his dominance throughout the tournament. Bhullar, undeterred through the day, expressed gratitude to TATA Steel for hosting the season-ending event.
Despite Rahil Gangjee enjoying a two-shot lead over Bhullar after the first 13 holes, Bhullar’s consistency and Gangjee’s late struggles resulted in Bhullar’s ultimate triumph. Angad Cheema’s performance featured an eagle, five birdies, a bogey, and a double-bogey, securing him a notable top-3 finish.
Yuvraj Singh Sandhu’s exceptional nine-under 63 earned him the day’s best score, securing a fourth-place finish at 20-under 268.
The season-ending event also witnessed the crowning of the PGTI Emerging Player of the Year, with 24-year-old rookie Varun Chopra of the United States claiming the title. Varun’s season earnings of INR 33,15,577 marked him as the highest-earning rookie, securing the 15th position in the tournament.