Will Honey Baisoya's Victory End His Title Drought?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 13 (NationPress) Honey Baisoya capped off the week with a remarkable five-under 65 on the final day to secure a three-shot victory at the INR 1.5 crore Players Championship 2026, held at the Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi on Friday.
Leading by five shots overnight, Baisoya (63-65-64-65) dominated the final round, achieving six birdies and only one bogey, culminating in a total score of 23-under 257 for the tournament, thereby breaking a five-year title drought.
This victory marks Baisoya's eighth win in his professional career. He took home the champion's prize of INR 22,50,000, which propelled him from third to first place in the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit.
Kshitij Naveed Kaul (62-71-65-62), who began the day tied for third and six shots behind the leader, delivered an impressive 62, the day's lowest score, finishing as the runner-up with a total of 20-under 260.
Veer Ahlawat (65-67-66-65) finished third at 17-under 263 after his final round of 65.
As the favorite to win, Baisoya started strong with five birdies on the front nine, offset by just one bogey. After reassessing his strategy on the seventh tee, he opted for a more aggressive approach, leading to birdies on the seventh, eighth, and ninth holes.
Maintaining a five-shot lead during the back nine, Baisoya made pars until the 17th hole and clinched the title with a superb bunker shot on the 18th that landed just two feet from the pin, marking his sixth birdie of the day.
Baisoya expressed his excitement, stating, “I’m thrilled to return to the winner’s circle after such a long period. Despite my five-shot lead, I understood the importance of playing well in the final round, as Veer and Kshitij are formidable competitors.”
“My strategy was to score at least three-under on the front nine, which I exceeded with a four-under performance. From the seventh hole, I aimed to play aggressively, which paid off with three consecutive birdies,” added Baisoya.
Kshitij Naveed Kaul, finishing second, had an impressive round of 62, making eight birdies, including birdies on the last four holes, earning him the runner-up prize of INR 15 lakh and elevating him from fourth to third in the DP World PGTI Order of Merit.