Arjun Prasad turns promise into IGPL title, Ganapathy finishes runner-up

NEW DELHI: Arjun Prasad didn’t have to attend lengthy for his first Indian Golf Premier League title. Just his second look on the IGPL and his first in India was sufficient for the younger skilled to show promise right into a trophy on the IGPL Invitational 2026 offered at Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi.Prasad, representing Unico Gurugram Tuskers GC, who gained the crew occasion, produced the spherical of the match when it mattered most, firing an excellent seven-under 63 within the third spherical to complete at 16-under 194. The effort gave him a four-shot cushion over one other of the league’s rising younger stars, Veer Ganapathy, who was representing the Bengaluru Stallions and completed runner-up at 12-under 198.The victory was constructed on three rounds of managed golf—66, 65, and 63—however it was the style by which Prasad dealt with the ultimate stretch that underlined his composure. He turned in 31 and got here house in 32, making seven birdies with out dropping a shot. A run of three consecutive birdies on the entrance 9, adopted by two extra on the again 9 and birdies on the seventeenth and 18th, allowed him to drag away from a area filled with established names.“Competition is fairly excessive over right here as properly. We have some excellent gamers who’ve accomplished phenomenally properly internationally,” Prasad mentioned after his victory. “I simply saved it quite simple from the very first day, simply saved on following the method, and I’m grateful that I used to be in a position to do all of it three days and get on prime.”“The course is taking part in very otherwise from what we’re usually used to. The fairways are softer, and the greens have been mushy as properly, however the tough was extraordinarily excessive, and the greens have been slower, so it was robust to guage that. Hitting the ball on the green after which getting it onto the inexperienced was crucial. If you missed the inexperienced, then these up-and-downs have been very robust to make,” Prasad mentioned.Prasad’s cost additionally got here on the expense of an intriguing battle involving Ganapathy, who had shared the lead after the second spherical and was among the many gamers anticipated to problem for the title. The Bengaluru teenager carded a 63 of his personal within the third spherical and completed at 12-under 198, 4 photographs behind Prasad.For Ganapathy, the week was one other reminder of his rising presence on the IGPL stage. After rounds of 68 and 67, he produced his finest golf when the stress was highest, attacking from the outset and giving himself an opportunity to remain within the title race.“The course is, after all, wonderful and in good situation. I imply, it is scoring, however on the identical time it’s important to hold the ball in play, which is essential,” Ganapathy mentioned. “I feel the primary two days I struggled a bit, however then I got here again properly, and I completed properly. Today from the beginning, it was like I used to be simply making an attempt to go as little as I may, and some putts fell, just a few good photographs, and yeah, it was an excellent week.”Prasad, who had made his IGPL debut in Ras Al Khaimah within the United Arab Emirates solely a few weeks earlier, acknowledged that Ganapathy’s presence close to the highest added one other layer to the final-round problem.“I’m so completely satisfied for the younger man. He performed so properly,” Prasad mentioned. “I had the chance to play with him on day one as properly, and he is an especially gritty younger child who has lots of potential. Having him transfer up the leaderboard was an important motivation for me to do my finest and enhance.”Experience additionally performed a task in Prasad’s victory. He mentioned a sequence of top-10 finishes and close to misses over the earlier season had helped him perceive the right way to deal with the essential moments higher.“Last 12 months I had lots of top-10 finishes, and I got here shut. I may solely shut it one time,” he mentioned. “The method I used to be speaking to myself within the spherical and the sort of headspace I used to be in, I feel that is lots of expertise in it as properly. All these issues final 12 months and even this 12 months have come collectively for this factor.”Behind the main duo, RVR Delhi Blue Bulls captain Shiv Kapur completed third at 11-under 199 after a final-round 65. Four-time IGPL winner Gaganjeet Bhullar carded a five-under ultimate spherical to complete fourth at 10-under 200, whereas Olympian Udayan Mane, Karandeep Kochhar, and Harshjeet Sethie shared fifth place.The match had a powerful girls’s presence too, with Kashika Misra ending because the main lady golfer. After taking the lead with rounds of 66 and 64, Misra carded a six-over 76 on the ultimate day and completed tied twentieth. Her efficiency over the primary two rounds, nevertheless, had put her firmly on the middle of the match narrative.Ganapathy was amongst these impressed by the younger golfer. “She’s performed unimaginable golf the entire week. She was actually destroying us, I’d say,” he mentioned. “All respect to her. It’s not that straightforward, and popping out right here and beating all the boys is hard. Props to her.”The combined area was one of many points Ganapathy felt made the IGPL completely different from typical golf tournaments.The crew competitors added one other dimension. Unico Gurugram Tuskers, powered by Prasad’s title-winning efficiency, completed on 23-under to assert crew honours. Shat Mishra, Tushar Pannu, and Shaurya Binu accomplished the successful mixture, with the Tuskers ending 4 photographs forward of Vimtra Chennai Lions GC, who have been second at 19-under. Gaganjeet Bhullar’s fourth-place end and Harshjeet Sethie’s tied-fifth effort led the Lions’ problem.Five groups, Bengaluru Stallions, Flying Man Kolkata, Auro Goa Eagles, RVR Delhi Blue Bulls, and Punjab Raptors shared third place at 18-under.For Ganapathy, the crew ingredient has turn out to be an essential a part of the league’s attraction.“IGPL introducing the crew format is one thing new, and I feel it is an important factor as a result of now it turns into like a camaraderie between the 4 gamers,” he mentioned. “Keeping our placements apart, we now have a very good bond on and off the course.”Prasad echoed that sentiment after serving to the Tuskers safe the crew title.“This week I used to be taking part in for the Gurugram Tuskers, and I feel the camaraderie is one thing I’m getting the grasp of. It’s new, and it is thrilling,” he mentioned.At Qutab, nevertheless, it was Prasad who had the ultimate phrase. His 63 remodeled an in depth contest right into a decisive victory and gave the IGPL one other new champion in an more and more aggressive season.For a participant who arrived within the league solely weeks in the past, the breakthrough may hardly have been louder: three rounds, 16-under par and a trophy to point out for it.