Arjun Prasad turned the promise into an IGPL title, Ganapathy finished second

Arjun Prasad turned the promise into an IGPL title, Ganapathy finished second NEW DELHI: Arjun Prasad did not have to wait long for his maiden Indian Golf Premier League title. Just his second appearance at the IGPL and his first in India was enough for the young pro to turn promise into a trophy at the \IGPL Invitational 2026 presented at the Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi.Prasad, representing Unico Gurugram Tuskers GC, who won the team tournament, produced the round of the tournament when it mattered most, shooting a brilliant 7-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 rising young stars, Veer Ganapathy, who represented Bengaluru-runner 1-2 Stallup Bengaluru. 198.The victory was built on three rounds of controlled golf – 66, 65 and 63 – but it was the way Prasad handled the final stretch that underlined his composure. He turned in a 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 on the 17th and 18th allowed him to pull away from a field full of established names.“The competition here is also quite high. We have some outstanding players who have done phenomenally well at the international level,” Prasad said after his victory. “I just kept it very simple from day one, I kept progressing and I’m grateful that I was able to do it all three days and come out on top.”“The course plays very differently to what we are generally used to. The fairways are softer and the greens were also soft, but the rough was extremely high and the greens slower, so it was difficult to judge. Hitting the fairway and then getting it to the green was very important. If you missed the green, then it was very difficult to make those up and downs,” said Prasad.Prasad’s charge also came at the expense of an interesting battle involving Ganapathy, who shared the lead after the second round and was among the players expected to challenge for the title. The youngster from Bengaluru shot a third-round 63 to finish at 12-under 198, four shots behind Prasad.For Ganapathy, this week was another reminder of his growing presence on the IGPL scene. After rounds of 68 and 67, he produced his best golf when the pressure was on, attacking from the start and giving himself a chance to stay in contention for the title.“Obviously the pitch is amazing and in good shape. I mean scoring goals but at the same time you have to keep the ball in play which is important,” said Ganapathy. “I think I struggled a little bit the first two days, but then I came back well and finished well. Today, from the start, it was like I was just trying to go as low as I could, and some putts fell, some good shots, and yeah, it was a good week.”Prasad, who made his IGPL debut in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates just a couple of weeks ago, acknowledged that Ganapathy’s presence near the top added another layer to the challenge of the last round.“I am so happy for the young lad. He played so well,” said Prasad. “I had the opportunity to play with him on the first day as well and he is an extremely brave young kid who has a lot of potential. The fact that he has moved up the rankings has been a big motivation for me to do my best and improve.”Experience also played a role in Prasad’s victory. He said a string of top-10 finishes and near misses in the previous season helped him understand how to better handle critical moments.“Last year I had a lot of top 10 finishes and I was close. I could only close it once,” he said. “The way I talked to myself on the bike and the headspace I was in, I think it’s a lot of experience as well. All those things last year and even this year came together for this thing.”Behind the leading duo, RVR Delhi Blue Bulls captain Shiv Kapur finished third on 11-under 199 after a final-round 65. Four-time IGPL winner Gaganjeet Bhullar shot a five-under final round to finish fourth on 10-under 200, while Olympian Udayan Mane, Karandeep Hareet Seth and fifth.The tournament also had a strong female presence, with Kashika Misra finishing as the leading golfer. After taking the lead with rounds of 66 and 64, Misra shot 6-76 on the final day to finish tied for 20th. However, her performance in the first two rounds put her firmly at the center of the narrative of the tournament.Ganapathy was among those impressed by the young golfer. “She played unbelievable golf all week. She literally destroyed us, I would say,” he said. “All respect to her. It’s not that easy and coming here and beating all the men is tough. Props to her.”The mixed field was one aspect that Ganapathy felt set the IGPL apart from regular golf tournaments.The team competition added another dimension. Powered by Prasad’s title-winning performance, Unico Gurugram Tuskers finished at 23 under to claim team honours. Shat Mishra, Tushar Pannu and Shaurya Binu completed the winning combination as the Tuskers finished four shots clear of Vimtra Chennai Lions GC who were second on 19 under. Gaganjeet Bhullar’s fourth and Harshjeet Sethie’s tied fifth led to the Lions’ challenge.Five teams, Bengaluru Stallions, Flying Man Kolkata, Auro Goa Eagles, RVR Delhi Blue Bulls and Punjab Raptors shared the third spot at 18 under.For Ganapathy, the team element became an important part of the appeal of the league.“The IGPL introducing a team format is something new and I think it’s a great thing because now it becomes like a camaraderie between four players,” he said. “Putting our placement aside, we have a really good bond on and off the pitch.Prasad echoed the sentiment after helping the Tuskers secure the team title.“I played for Gurugram Tuskers this week and I think the camaraderie is something I’m starting to understand. It’s new and it’s exciting,” he said.In Qutab, however, Prasad had the last word. His 63 turned a tight contest into a decisive victory and gave the IGPL another new champion in an increasingly competitive season.For a player who joined the league just weeks ago, the breakthrough could hardly have been louder: three rounds, 16 under par and a trophy.