Vihaan Jain Becomes First Indian Golfer To Win AJGA OakWing Tournament

By Deepak Arora

ALEXANDRIA (Louisiana): Sixteen-year-old Indian golfer Vihaan Jain has won the 2026 AJGA (the American Junior Golf Association) Preview tournament held at OakWing Golf Club in Alexandria, Louisiana. He finished the event at four-under-par (212) on the 6,842-yard course, competing in challenging weather conditions. In the Boys Division, Vihaan Jain of India delivered an impressive performance to secure the championship. The tournament was decided on the final hole, where Vihaan made a birdie on the 18th to clinch the title, becoming the first Indian to win this prestigious event....more

Golf Stars Akshay Bhatia, Rayhan Thomas, Molinari To Feature In HIO 2026 At DLF Golf Club

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Notable golf players such as 24-year-old Indian-American Akshay Bhatia, Italy’s Francesco Molinari, Rayhan Thomas, Eugenio Chacarra of Spain and India's Veer Ahlawat, Yuvraj Sandhu and Manu Gandas are set to play in the 2026 Hero Indian Open (HIO).

The tournament is scheduled to take place from March 26 to 29 at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram. It is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Indian Golf Union (IGU). Hero MotoCorp is the title sponsor of the event.

The field will include notable players such as 24-year-old Indian-American Akshay Bhatia, who recently won the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Orlando, after a playoff. Bhatia serves as Hero MotoCorp’s Global Brand Ambassador and is currently second on the FedEx Cup standings. He will make his first tour visit to India for this event. Bhatia’s career highlights include three PGA Tour wins and participation in the Masters in 2024 and 2025.

Also confirmed is Rayhan Thomas, another Hero MotoCorp Brand Ambassador competing on the Korn Ferry Tour, and Italy’s Francesco Molinari, a three-time PGA Tour victor and 2018 Open Championship winner. Molinari has contributed to three successful Ryder Cup teams and secured the winning point in 2018 at Le Golf National in Paris.

The current player list features reigning HIO champion Eugenio Chacarra of Spain, who became the first Spanish winner in 2025, and Thomas Detry of Belgium, 2025 Phoenix Open champion. Other notable entrants include DP World Tour winners Casey Jarvis from South Africa, Nacho Elvira from Spain, and Freddy Schott from Germany.

Top Indian professionals Veer Ahlawat, Yuvraj Sandhu, Manu Gandas, and Shaurya Bhattacharya will also compete. Yuvraj Sandhu was ranked India No. 1 in 2025.

Sanjay Bhan, Executive Vice President of Hero MotoCorp, said: “The association between Hero MotoCorp and the Hero Indian Open (HIO) has grown stronger with every passing year and today stands as a proud partnership spanning more than two decades. This enduring commitment reflects our deep belief in golf’s growth and global potential in India. With an enhanced prize purse and a world-class field featuring some of the finest talent from India and across the globe, we are delighted to usher in another exciting edition of the HIO. We look forward to welcoming players and fans for what promises to be truly memorable week of golf.”

Brijinder Singh, President of the Indian Golf Union, stated: “The Hero Indian Open remains the crown jewel in the calendar of the Indian Golf Union and holds a special place in the history of Indian golf. This year’s tournament promises to be bigger than ever as we welcome a stellar field of leading international players along with India’s finest professionals. I would like to thank Dr. Pawan Munjal and Hero MotoCorp for their continued support of the Hero Indian Open and their commitment to the growth of golf in India. We are also grateful to the DP World Tour for their valued partnership. While I am unable to be present in person, I extend my best wishes for a successful and memorable championship.”

Ben Cowen, Chief Tournament and Operations Officer at the DP World Tour, commented: “We are looking forward to returning to India for another edition of the historic Hero Indian Open. We are grateful for the continued partnership with Hero MotoCorp and Dr. Pawan Munjal which has seen India’s national open go from strength to strength and we are anticipating another exciting week in Delhi. DLF Golf and Country Club is a world-class course that provides our players with a true test every year, so we are grateful to everyone at the venue for their continued support and hospitality. I would also like to thank the Indian Golf Union for their hard work in continuing to develop golf in India. This tournament has played such an important role in helping them to achieve that and we look forward to the 2026 edition later this month.”

Anshul Mishra wins Northern India IGU Championship

PANCHKULA: Kolkata golfer Anshul Mishra claimed the IGU Northern India Amateur Golf Championship 2026 title after a strong closing round at Panchkula Golf Club. Mishra carded rounds of 72-70-71-69 to finish at 6-under 282, sealing the victory with his best round of the week in the final round. The Kolkata golfer, ranked third on the Indian Golf Union rankings in 2025, produced a composed finish to secure the championship....more

@ Vinamra Anand starts his 2026 campaign with a win in Chandigarh