Digboi, Nov 21 (NationPress) Yuvraj Sandhu made a remarkable comeback after enduring two consecutive playoff defeats, clinching a convincing seven-stroke victory on Friday, marking his third title at the Digboi Masters, a prestigious INR 1 crore tournament held at the Digboi Golf Links in Assam.

With scores of (65-69-66-69), Yuvraj, who established a commanding six-stroke advantage after the third round, achieved a commendable three-under 69 in the final round, accumulating a total of 19-under 269 throughout the tournament during the landmark 25th edition of the IndianOil SERVO Masters. The 28-year-old from Chandigarh recorded his fifth win of the season, further solidifying his position in the PGTI Order of Merit.

As the wire-to-wire champion, Yuvraj received a winning cheque of INR 15 lakh, bringing his seasonal earnings to INR 1,21,67,100. He now boasts a lead exceeding INR 29 lakh in the PGTI Ranking.

Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh, last year's champion, delivered the day's best score of 65, climbing six places from his overnight tied eighth to finish second with a total of 12-under 276.

Deven Bhumij from Digboi was the only local professional to make the cut, concluding the tournament in 54th place at 10-over 298.

Yuvraj Sandhu, who led from the first day to the last, matched his previous record of five wins in a single PGTI season, a milestone he first reached in 2022. Despite an early bogey on the second hole Friday, he quickly regained his momentum with birdies on the third and fifth holes, complemented by an eagle from eight feet on the seventh, creating an impressive eight-shot lead.

Although bogeys on the 12th and 17th holes interrupted his rhythm, he countered with birdies on the 15th and 16th, ultimately securing a comfortable victory.

Yuvraj, who holds the record for the lowest winning total of 23-under 265 in Digboi, expressed, “It was a pretty relaxed day as I enjoyed a significant lead at the start of the round. My goal was to achieve greens in regulation. After the eagle on the seventh, I was back in my zone, aiming to break my record for the lowest winning total in Digboi.

“Digboi will always have a special place in my heart as it was where I won my first PGTI title. I’m thrilled to have won here for the third time, and winning by such a margin is something I truly appreciate.

“The playoff defeats in the last two tournaments were disheartening, but I viewed them as valuable lessons. My team encouraged me to stay focused and continue performing well. Their unwavering belief in me and my dedication to improving the mental aspect of my game enabled me to overcome those playoff challenges and return to victory this week,” added Yuvraj, celebrating his 14th professional win.

Jamal Hossain’s impressive round included an eagle and five birdies. His runner-up finish earned him a cheque of INR 10 lakh and propelled him from eighth to fifth place in the PGTI Ranking.

Shaurya Bhattacharya (67), Saptak Talwar (69), and Veer Ahlawat (70) finished tied for third with totals of 11-under 277. Shaurya's tied third result elevated him from third to second position in the PGTI Ranking, boosting his seasonal earnings to INR 92,52,075.