IGPL 2026 second half begins at Al Hamra Golf Club, UAE
Synopsis
The IGPL 2026 resumes its international leg in Ras Al Khaimah with a marquee field led by 11-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar, the debut of an under-lights X-Golf format, and three first-time IGPL competitors — signalling an ambitious leap in scale for Indian golf's premier franchise league.
Key Takeaways
The IGPL Invitational 2026 at Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah is the seventh tournament of the season, beginning 22 September 2026 .
Gaganjeet Bhullar (11-time Asian Tour winner) headlines the field alongside Shiv Kapur , Udayan Mane , Gaurav Ghei , and Chiragh Kumar .
Debutants Arjun Prasad , Joshua Grenville Wood , and Ravi Kumar make their first IGPL appearances.
X-Golf , a new under-lights knockout format at the 18th hole at 9 pm , makes its IGPL debut at this event.
The UAE leg is the tour's final international stop before it returns to India for eight events leading to the Grand Finale in December .
Al Hamra Golf Club , managed by Troon Golf and stretching 7,200 yards , has previously hosted European Tour events.
The Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) 2026 kicked off the second half of its season on Wednesday, 22 September at the Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, with the IGPL Invitational 2026 serving as the seventh tournament of the campaign and the sixth staged outside India.
Tournament Overview
The three-day event marks a pivotal juncture in the season, coming on the heels of international stops in Morocco (twice), Congo, South Africa, and Mauritius. The UAE leg is the tour's final international stop before it returns to India for the next eight events, culminating in the Grand Finale in December. It is also the first event since IGPL franchises assumed a more prominent competitive role.
Star-Studded Field
Gaganjeet Bhullar, an 11-time Asian Tour winner and former Asian Games medallist, headlines the field under the banner of franchise Vimtra Ventures. He is joined by four-time Asian Tour winner Shiv Kapur, Olympian Udayan Mane, three-time Asian Tour winner Gaurav Ghei, and Asian Tour winner Chiragh Kumar.
Indian-American Manav Shah, who competed in the US Open 2026, is also part of the field, alongside previous IGPL winners Aman Raj, Sachin Baisoya, and Aryan Roopa Anand. The opening round on Wednesday features a shotgun start at 7:30 am, with Bhullar, Kapur, and Baisoya forming the first group.
New Faces and Debutants
The UAE event introduces several debutants to the IGPL. Arjun Prasad, described as a consistent performer and winner, Joshua Grenville Wood — who was granted UAE citizenship three years ago — and Ravi Kumar will all make their first appearances on the tour. UAE professional Ahmad Skaik, who won the 2025 GCC Golf Championship with a record-breaking 18-under-par score and helped the UAE claim its first-ever team gold at the championship, is also in the field.
X-Golf Format Debuts
The UAE stop will also see the debut of X-Golf, a new competitive concept on the IGPL Tour. Played under lights around the 18th hole at 9 pm on the final day, the format seeds players from one to ten based on team performances over the first three rounds. The top seed advances directly to the semifinals, while seeds two through ten are split into three round-robin groups. Points accumulated through X-Golf will count towards qualification for the Grand Finale in December.
The Venue and What Officials Said
The Al Hamra Golf Club, managed by Troon Golf and stretching approximately 7,200 yards, has previously hosted European Tour events. Ryan Fox won the 2022 Ras Al Khaimah Classic at the venue — one of his early DP World Tour victories — before going on to win The Open at Royal Birkdale in 2026.
Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL, said the league was proud to compete on world-class courses like Al Hamra. 'We are delighted to be back in the UAE, which has now become a major hub for world golf. The IGPL is growing in strength with each event and is a great mix of youth and experience,' Mundy said. He added that the venue provided younger players a significant opportunity to compete on a stage that has hosted elite international golf.
With the UAE leg set to wrap up ahead of a packed Indian calendar, all eyes will be on whether the X-Golf format and the franchise dynamic reshape the season standings before the Grand Finale.
Point of View
Or whether it risks making the product feel more like a touring exhibition than a franchise competition. The debut of X-Golf under lights is the most interesting structural experiment yet: if the format generates crowd and digital engagement in the UAE, it could reshape how the Grand Finale is designed. India's golf ecosystem needs a visible, high-stakes domestic circuit; the IGPL has the talent, but the calendar and format must ultimately serve the Indian audience to deliver lasting value.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IGPL Invitational 2026?
The IGPL Invitational 2026 is the seventh tournament of the Indian Golf Premier League 2026 season, held at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, beginning 22 September. It marks the start of the second half of the IGPL season and is the league's final international stop before returning to India.
Who are the top players competing in the IGPL UAE event?
The field is headlined by 11-time Asian Tour winner Gaganjeet Bhullar and includes four-time Asian Tour winner Shiv Kapur, Olympian Udayan Mane, three-time Asian Tour winner Gaurav Ghei, and Asian Tour winner Chiragh Kumar. Indian-American Manav Shah, who played in the 2026 US Open, is also competing.
What is the X-Golf format debuting at the IGPL UAE event?
X-Golf is a new knockout format played under lights around the 18th hole at 9 pm on the final day of the tournament. Players are seeded one to ten based on team performances over the first three rounds, with points contributing to qualification for the IGPL Grand Finale in December.
Who are the debutants at the IGPL UAE event?
Arjun Prasad, Joshua Grenville Wood, and Ravi Kumar will all make their first IGPL appearances at the UAE event. Grenville Wood was granted UAE citizenship three years ago, while Prasad is regarded as a consistent performer and winner.
What is Al Hamra Golf Club and why is it significant?
Al Hamra Golf Club is a 7,200-yard course in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, managed by Troon Golf, and has previously hosted European Tour events. Ryan Fox won the 2022 Ras Al Khaimah Classic there before claiming The Open at Royal Birkdale in 2026.
