Pukhraj Gill holds one-shot lead at Players Championship despite mid-round wobble
Synopsis
Pukhraj Gill's roller-coaster day at the Players Championship showcased both brilliance and fragility. An eagle-and-two-birdies blitz gave him a three-shot lead, but consecutive bogey-double bogey stumbles nearly undid it. At 13-under with a one-shot cushion over Ramos, Gill's Order of Merit pedigree and Singapore experience suggest he has the mettle to close it out — but the leaderboard remains tight.
Key Takeaways
Pukhraj Singh Gill leads the Players Championship in Kuala Lumpur at 13-under after shooting 2-under 70 .
He holds a one-shot lead over Sean Ramos of the Philippines, who is at 12-under .
Gill birdied three of his first nine holes before bogeying the ninth and double-bogeying the 11th.
Thanawin Lee of Thailand sits third at 9-under .
Fellow IGPL players Aman Raj , Aryan Roopa Anand , and Varun Parikh missed the cut.
Gill won the IGPL Order of Merit last year and finished Tied-26th at the International Series Singapore .
Pukhraj Singh Gill of India maintained his position atop the leaderboard at the Players Championship in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, despite a brief stumble mid-round that saw him drop three shots across three consecutive holes. The Indian Premier Golf League (IGPL) star carded 2-under 70 to reach 13-under and hold a one-shot lead over Sean Ramos of the Philippines, who shot 67 and sits at 12-under.
Gill's roller-coaster round
Gill, a long hitter off the tee, began brilliantly with an eagle-two on the Par-4 fourth, followed by birdies on the sixth and eighth holes to surge to 15-under and hold a commanding three-shot advantage. The momentum reversed sharply when he bogeyed the ninth and double-bogeyed the 11th, erasing his lead cushion. He steadied with a string of pars and recovered with a birdie on the 17th to post his final score.
Other Indian contenders
Thanawin Lee of Thailand finished third at 9-under following a 73. Among other Indian competitors, Khalin Joshi carded 71 to sit T-33, while rising star Kartik Singh, an IGPL participant in 2025, slipped dramatically from inside the top 10 to T-56 after a disappointing 81. Aman Raj, Aryan Roopa Anand, and Varun Parikh — all IGPL regulars — missed the cut.
Gill's trajectory and confidence
Gill, who won once on the IGPL last year and currently represents Honer Homes Gurugram in the league's team competition, credited his experience from earlier international exposure. "That Singapore experience helped me a lot, and I am very confident as the season progresses," said the 29-year-old from Ludhiana, Punjab, referring to his Tied-26th finish at the International Series Singapore. His consistency in the previous IGPL season earned him the Order of Merit.
What's ahead
With two rounds of the Players Championship complete, Gill enters the final stages as the clear favourite, though Ramos remains within striking distance. The tournament continues at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Malaysia.
Point of View
But the gap between domestic dominance and sustained international pressure remains stark. Ramos is only a hot round away; Gill must sustain focus across 36 more holes.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pukhraj Gill's current position at the Players Championship?
Pukhraj Gill leads the Players Championship in Kuala Lumpur at 13-under par after shooting 2-under 70 in the second round. He holds a one-shot lead over Filipino Sean Ramos, who is at 12-under.
Why did Gill's lead shrink after he shot an eagle and two birdies?
Gill surged to 15-under and held a three-shot lead after an eagle on the fourth and birdies on the sixth and eighth. He then bogeyed the ninth and double-bogeyed the 11th, erasing much of his advantage before recovering with pars and a birdie on 17 to finish at 13-under.
How did other Indian golfers perform in the second round?
Khalin Joshi shot 71 and sits T-33. Kartik Singh, an IGPL participant, slipped to T-56 after an 81. Aman Raj, Aryan Roopa Anand, and Varun Parikh, all IGPL regulars, missed the cut.
What is Pukhraj Gill's background on the IGPL?
Gill won once on the Indian Premier Golf League last year and earned the IGPL Order of Merit. He currently plays for Honer Homes Gurugram in the league's team competition, which was introduced alongside the main tour.
Has Pukhraj Gill played international tournaments before?
Yes, Gill finished Tied-26th at the International Series Singapore, an experience he credits with boosting his confidence heading into this season.
