NEW DELHI: Arjun Prasad did not have to wait long for his first Indian Golf Premier League title. Just his second appearance on the IGPL and his first in India was enough for the young professional to turn promise into a trophy at the \ IGPL Invitational 2026 presented at Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi.Prasad, representing Unico Gurugram Tuskers GC, who won the team event, produced the round of the tournament when it mattered most, firing a brilliant seven-under 63 in the third round to finish at 16-under 194. The effort gave him a four-shot cushion over another of the league’s emerging young stars, Veer Ganapathy, who was representing the Bengaluru Stallions and finished runner-up at 12-under 198.The victory was built on three rounds of controlled golf—66, 65, and 63—but it was the manner in which Prasad handled the final stretch that underlined his composure. He turned in 31 and came home in 32, making seven birdies without dropping a shot. A run of three consecutive birdies on the front nine, followed by two more on the back nine and birdies at the 17th and 18th, allowed him to pull away from a field packed with established names.“Competition is pretty high over here as well. We have some outstanding players who have done phenomenally well internationally,” Prasad said after his victory. “I just kept it very simple from the very first day, just kept on following the process, and I’m grateful that I was able to do it all three days and get on top.”“The course is playing very differently from what we are generally used to. The fairways are softer, and the greens were soft as well, but the rough was extremely high, and the greens were slower, so it was tough to judge that. Hitting the ball on the fairway and then getting it onto the green was very important. If you missed the green, then those up-and-downs were very tough to make,” Prasad said.Prasad’s charge also came at the expense of an intriguing battle involving Ganapathy, who had shared the lead after the second round and was among the players expected to challenge for the title. The Bengaluru youngster carded a 63 of his own in the third round and finished at 12-under 198, four shots behind Prasad.For Ganapathy, the week was another reminder of his growing presence on the IGPL stage. After rounds of 68 and 67, he produced his best golf when the pressure was highest, attacking from the outset and giving himself a chance to stay in the title race.“The course is, of course, amazing and in good condition. I mean, it’s scoring, but at the same time you have to keep the ball in play, which is important,” Ganapathy said. “I think the first two days I struggled a bit, but then I came back well, and I finished well. Today from the start, it was like I was just trying to go as low as I could, and a few putts fell, a few good shots, and yeah, it was a good week.”Prasad, who had made his IGPL debut in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates only a couple of weeks earlier, acknowledged that Ganapathy’s presence near the top added another layer to the final-round challenge.“I’m so happy for the young guy. He played so well,” Prasad said. “I had the opportunity to play with him on day one as well, and he’s an extremely gritty young kid who has a lot of potential. Having him move up the leaderboard was a great motivation for me to do my best and improve.”Experience also played a role in Prasad’s victory. He said a series of top-10 finishes and near misses over the previous season had helped him understand how to handle the critical moments better.“Last year I had a lot of top-10 finishes, and I came close. I could only close it one time,” he said. “The way I was talking to myself in the round and the kind of headspace I was in, I think that’s a lot of experience in it as well. All those things last year and even this year have come together for this thing.”Behind the leading duo, RVR Delhi Blue Bulls captain Shiv Kapur finished third at 11-under 199 after a final-round 65. Four-time IGPL winner Gaganjeet Bhullar carded a five-under final round to finish fourth at 10-under 200, while Olympian Udayan Mane, Karandeep Kochhar, and Harshjeet Sethie shared fifth place.The tournament had a strong women’s presence too, with Kashika Misra finishing as the leading woman golfer. After taking the lead with rounds of 66 and 64, Misra carded a six-over 76 on the final day and finished tied 20th. Her performance over the first two rounds, however, had put her firmly at the center of the tournament narrative.Ganapathy was among those impressed by the young golfer. “She’s played incredible golf the whole week. She was literally destroying us, I would say,” he said. “All respect to her. It’s not that easy, and coming out here and beating all the men is tough. Props to her.”The mixed field was one of the aspects Ganapathy felt made the IGPL different from conventional golf tournaments.The team competition added another dimension. Unico Gurugram Tuskers, powered by Prasad’s title-winning performance, finished on 23-under to claim team honours. Shat Mishra, Tushar Pannu, and Shaurya Binu completed the winning combination, with the Tuskers finishing four shots ahead of Vimtra Chennai Lions GC, who were second at 19-under. Gaganjeet Bhullar’s fourth-place finish and Harshjeet Sethie’s tied-fifth effort led the Lions’ challenge.Five teams, Bengaluru Stallions, Flying Man Kolkata, Auro Goa Eagles, RVR Delhi Blue Bulls, and Punjab Raptors shared third place at 18-under.For Ganapathy, the team element has become an important part of the league’s appeal.“IGPL introducing the team format is something new, and I think it’s a great thing because now it becomes like a camaraderie between the four players,” he said. “Keeping our placements aside, we have a really good bond on and off the course.”Prasad echoed that sentiment after helping the Tuskers secure the team title.“This week I was playing for the Gurugram Tuskers, and I think the camaraderie is something I’m getting the hang of. It’s new, and it’s exciting,” he said.At Qutab, however, it was Prasad who had the final word. His 63 transformed a close contest into a decisive victory and gave the IGPL another new champion in an increasingly competitive season.For a player who arrived in the league only weeks ago, the breakthrough could hardly have been louder: three rounds, 16-under par and a trophy to show for it.
