Gaganjeet Bhullar, Sachin Baisoya, and fast-emerging Arjun Prasad share the first-round lead at the Phoenix Invitational 2026 in Hyderabad, each carding an impressive six-under-par 66 at Vooty Golf County in Telangana on 11 November 2026. The three-way tie at the top has transformed what was shaping up as a Bhullar-Baisoya duel into a genuinely open contest with two rounds remaining.

Prasad Adds a New Dimension

Arjun Prasad has wasted little time making his mark on the IGPL Tour, having already secured a victory on only his second start this season. His opening-round 66 was built on a steady front nine — he turned at one-under — before a commanding back nine that featured a superb four-iron approach to within 10 feet on the par-three 11th and three consecutive birdies from holes 14 to 16. Overall, Prasad recorded eight birdies and two bogeys, with five of those birdies coming in a six-hole stretch from the 11th to the 16th.

Vooty holds personal significance for Prasad, who registered his first tournament hole-in-one on the eighth hole at the same venue in a previous outing. 'Vooty is special to me after hitting my first tournament hole-in-one on the eighth here last time, and the greens are rolling very true despite the tricky wind. My game plan is set, and I am looking forward to two more solid rounds in my first AM Green IGPL season,' he said.

Bhullar's Experience Shines Again

For Gaganjeet Bhullar, the opening 66 was another testament to course management under unfamiliar conditions. The 38-year-old, a six-time IGPL winner and 11-time Asian Tour champion, had not played Vooty Golf County before and had not even managed a practice round — mirroring the situation at East Point Golf Club in Visakhapatnam last week, where he shared the first-round lead at the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational before going on to win the title.

At Vooty, Bhullar posted nine birdies against three bogeys, with his putter proving particularly reliable. 'I had never played this course, but I had also never played the East Point GC last week. Maybe experience helps,' Bhullar said with a laugh. 'I played well, and if you see any specific aspect, the putting went great. I dropped three bogeys, but that means I had nine birdies, like half of the 18 we played.' He also highlighted the tour's growing depth: 'The course is playing great, and the greens were pure. It was fun out there, and I can see some youngsters also doing well. That augurs well for AM Green IGPL as such and hopefully out of many of these teen stars, we will have some future champions.'

Baisoya's Explosive Opening Five Holes

Sachin Baisoya produced arguably the most eye-catching stretch of golf in the opening round, reaching five-under through his first five holes. That sequence included a birdie on a par-4, another birdie, and then a chip-in eagle on the fifth. A bogey on the sixth briefly stalled his momentum before he steadied with a birdie. He then holed a putt from approximately 15 to 20 feet for birdie on the 10th to stay firmly in contention. His final card read: one eagle, six birdies, and two bogeys.

Baisoya, whose first international breakthrough came with a victory in Mauritius, has established himself as one of the tour's most consistent challengers. He is focused on his own process rather than the standings. 'My game plan is to stick to my own game. Tomorrow and the day after, I just have to keep the same mindset I had today. In the last tournament I also made the playoff. I just give my 100 per cent, and the results will follow,' he said.

Packed Leaderboard Promises a Tight Finish

The leading trio are not short of company. Shat Mishra, Harshjeet Sethie, Ravi Kumar, and teenage prospect Danish Verma are tied fourth at five-under 67. A further six players — including Aryan Roopa Anand (winner in Congo), teenage talent Veer Ganapathy, long-hitting Tushar Pannu, experienced professionals Shiv Kapur and M. Dharma, and Sawai Hamendra Singh Bhati — are bunched at four-under 68. In all, 13 players sit within two shots of the leaders, with greens running at 10.5 on the stimpmeter contributing to the quality of scoring throughout.

With two rounds remaining, Bhullar will look to extend his remarkable IGPL run, Baisoya will be seeking to convert consistency into another title, and Prasad has a clear opportunity to announce himself among the tour's leading contenders at the Phoenix Invitational 2026.