Mumbai, Nov 17 (NationPress) Karandeep Kochhar, riding high after his victory in Egypt, makes his return to the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Tour, preparing to tee off at the IGPL Invitational Mumbai as the tour reaches the western regions of India. Following six tournaments across the nation, the seventh leg will be hosted at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club.

This event will also feature two other players in outstanding form: Pukhraj Singh Gill, who claimed victory in Jamshedpur, and Aman Raj, who triumphed in both Jaipur and Kolkata. Additionally, Kapil Kumar, who recently won in Pune, will also compete.

The competition among the women is expected to be fierce this season, highlighted by Vani Kapoor, recently crowned the Order of Merit winner, who will be participating this week. Other prominent female golfers include Pranavi Urs, a regular on the Ladies European Tour, former WGAI Order of Merit champion Sneha Singh, along with Amandeep Drall, Neha Tripathi, and Jasmine Shekar.

India’s most accomplished golfer, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who has the highest number of Asian Tour wins, will not participate this week as he is currently competing on the Asian Tour.

The upcoming event at the BPGC is particularly significant as it serves as the last tournament before the highly anticipated Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat, co-hosted by IGPL and the Asian Tour, boasting a purse of $500,000.

A strong performance this week is crucial for players vying for the IGPL Order of Merit, which comes with numerous rewards. The top player in the OOM will secure a spot in the $2 million International Series in India, potentially leading to broader international opportunities.

Additionally, excelling at the Bharath Classic 2025 Gujarat in Ahmedabad could facilitate progress on the Asian Tour for the 2026 season. Players will also have the chance to access the Final Stage of Asian Tour Qualifying.

Kochhar is on track for the Asian Tour following his success in Egypt, which should help him secure a Top-5 finish on the Asian Development Tour (ADT). For many Indian golfers, the Asian Tour has become increasingly appealing due to its similarities with Indian conditions and geographic proximity.

The battle for the Order of Merit features leader Aman Raj facing competition from Pukhraj Singh Gill and teenager Kartik Singh. Pukhraj has positioned himself as a contender for the Order of Merit title following his first professional win in Jamshedpur, and a victory this week could elevate him to the top.

Despite a series of commendable performances, Kartik is still on the hunt for his first IGPL victory. Securing a win in Mumbai this week could launch him to the forefront. Other notable participants include Kapil Kumar, a winner in Pune, and Sachin Baisoya, who could also rise to the top with a win.

Additionally, SSP Chawrasia, a renowned player on the IGPL, Olympian Udayan Mane, and former Indian Open champion C Muniyappa will join the field, along with young talent Veer Ganapathy, who is also looking for his first victory after several impressive performances.

For any of the three challengers—Pukhraj, Kartik, or Sachin—to ascend to the top, they will need Aman Raj to finish significantly lower on the leaderboard. Based on current form, Aman appears to be in a strong position despite not finishing in the top ten in Jamshedpur.