Chandigarh, March 13 – Gaganjeet Bhullar successfully defended his title at the IGPL Invitational Chandigarh, as he rallied from four shots behind to secure his fourth IGPL victory in just six appearances.
Bhullar, who shot 68-69 in the first two days, added a bogey-free 4-under 68, highlighted by three birdies in four holes between the 13th and 16th on the back nine. His total of 11-under over three days had only one bogey on the second day, showcasing his high level of consistency and precision.
Bhullar finished three strokes ahead of Varun Parikh (70), while Sachin Baisoya (68) was third alongside Manav Shah (70) at 7-under. Both Parikh and Shah are debutants and were delighted with their performance in the IGPL.
"Winning is always the most satisfying feeling, and I always try to stay focused," said Bhullar, who was surrounded by his friends and fans as he completed his victory on the 18th green at the Chandigarh Golf Club.
"I love this course; it's my home course," Bhullar said, who won the first two IGPL events last year and later secured a third title.
Bhullar, who played only five IGPL events in 2025, finished third on the Order of Merit, behind Pukhraj Singh Gill and Aman Raj.
IGPL debutant, Varun Parikh, who revealed that Bhullar helped him make the decision to join the IGPL, finished second with a par on the final hole. He shot 71-67-70 to be 8-under and three behind the winner.
Overnight leader, Aman Raj (77), had a difficult final day and slipped to fifth at 6-under, while Varun Chopra (67) finished sixth at 5-under.
Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of the IGPL, who flew in from Singapore, where he was one of the signatories to the historic agreement between the IGPL and the International Series, was delighted with the result. "Gaganjeet (Bhullar) is undoubtedly the best Indian golfer right now. His consistent results are proof of that. He has also been a mentor for younger players."
He added, "It was very appropriate that he won the opening event of the 2026 IGPL season, just as he did in 2025."
Three players, last year's IGPL Order of Merit champion, Pukhraj Singh Gill (73), were tied for seventh alongside Kapil Kumar (73). All three were winners from the 2025 season.
Bhullar, whose family was at the Chandigarh Golf Club to witness his victory, is also enjoying the role of a mentor and an inspiration for many young players. He said, "It's great to start the new year with a win, and I'm delighted with how the IGPL is progressing. It has attracted many new talents. For instance, Varun (Parikh), Manav (Shah), and Varun Chopra, all of whom have recently joined the IGPL, have shown that they are valuable assets to the IGPL, finishing in the Top-6."
Bhullar also expressed his satisfaction with how Varun (Parikh), who played alongside him in the final group, handled the pressure of being in a leading position.
Parikh praised Bhullar for his calm and composed demeanor, even when his shots weren't up to expectations. "I took his advice before joining the IGPL. After talking to him, I was convinced that this was the best way to get to the Asian Tour and the International Series, which is where I want to be. Then to hear about the tie-up between the IGPL and the International Series on Thursday was fantastic."
Debutants and second-place finisher Parikh added, "It was an honor to play alongside Gaganjeet, who is an 11-time winner on the Asian Tour."
A mix of youth and experience, including six-time Asian Tour winner, SSP Chawrasia (70), Harendra Gupta (69), Veer Ganapathy (69), and left-handed Kartik Sharma (72), rounded out the Top-10.