Chandigarh, March 12 (NationPress) Aman Raj, who faced injuries last season, is in an excellent position to kick off the new 2026 season triumphantly. The 30-year-old golfer from Patna, who secured two victories last season, dazzled with an impressive 8-under 64 under the scorching sun, propelling himself to the top of the leaderboard at 11-under. He had previously carded 3-under 69 on the opening day at the Chandigarh Golf Club.

Last year, Aman narrowly missed the inaugural IGPL Order of Merit, finishing just behind Pukhraj Singh Gill by less than Rs. 9,000. He currently holds a four-shot advantage over Gaganjeet Bhullar, the most accomplished Indian golfer on the Asian Tour with 11 wins. Aman remarked, “Bhullar can bounce back from any setback. He’s an extraordinary player, as demonstrated by his consistency in last year’s IGPL.”

On his performance, Aman reflected, “I began with a mishap on the first hole but still managed to birdie it. It was that kind of day. I struggled off the tee, but my short game was exceptional and helped me through.”

With a laugh, he added, “I feel okay but need to maintain more consistency. Although I’m not entirely free of minor issues, I understand that I need to adapt and give my best. Today was certainly a good day, and I aim to have more of those.”

Bhullar, who was bogey-free on the first day with a score of 68, struggled with one bogey and four bogeys on the second. “Ironically, I struck the ball well and played nicely. However, my scoring has not been up to par these last two days. I missed numerous birdie opportunities. That’s my focus moving forward. Otherwise, my game feels solid, and I’m eager for a successful season ahead.”

Despite playing only half the events last year as he also participated in the International Series and Asian Tour, Bhullar won three times in 2025 and finished third in the IGPL Order of Merit.

The competition for the Order of Merit in 2025 was intensely close, with the top three—Pukhraj (Rs. 81,90,652), Aman Raj (Rs. 81,81,708), and Bhullar (Rs. 81,30,000)—separated by just over Rs. 60,000.

Bhullar mentioned, “I also heard about the tie-up between the IGPL and International Series just as I completed my round. I was excited because I have been involved with it for a while, and it could significantly benefit my peers. This could be the breakthrough Indian golf has been searching for, as the IGPL is creating the right and lucrative opportunities.”

IGPL newcomer Varun Parikh expressed his excitement about the announcement of IGPL’s historic partnership with the International Series, which offers IGPL players a pathway to the lucrative Liv-backed International Series. “This is fantastic news. I aspire to join the Asian Tour and reach the International Series. Learning about the collaboration was a major motivator for many of us aiming for the Asian Tour, which resembles the conditions we’re accustomed to.”

While Aman Raj leads by a significant margin, the leaderboard is tightly contested. In addition to Bhullar (4 shots behind) and Parikh (5 shots behind), four players are at 5-under, six strokes behind the leader.

Aman Raj’s outstanding performance indicates that low scores are achievable at the Chandigarh Golf Club, ensuring no lead is safe.

Kapil Kumar (70-69), one of the 2025 winners, is tied for fourth with local player Ranjit Singh (70-69), despite finishing with a bogey. They are joined by Indian-American Manav Shah (69-70) and last year's Pukhraj Singh Gill (70-69), who is gradually recovering from an offseason injury.

Yashas Chandra (68-72) and former Asian Tour champion Chiragh Kumar (69-71) are tied for eighth place.

Young amateur Harjai Milkha Singh showcased his strong lineage by adding a 3-under 69 to his initial round of 72, placing him tied for 10th alongside the experienced Karandeep Kochhar (70-71) and Sachin Baisoya (72-69) at 3-under total. His father, Jeev Milkha Singh, may be competing on distant courses around the globe, but Harjai proved that Chandigarh is indeed his family’s domain by achieving five birdies against two bogeys.