Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dec 25 (NationPress) India’s golf icon Jeev Milkha Singh delivered a thrilling conclusion to the inaugural season of the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) by triumphing at the IGPL Invitational Sri Lanka, the season's final event. This marks Jeev's first victory since 2012 as he outperformed a mix of youthful and seasoned competitors on the greens of the Royal Colombo Golf Course.

After a less-than-stellar second day, Jeev dedicated almost thirty minutes on the putting green, which seemed to pay off as he showcased remarkable putting skill alongside impressive iron play, landing approaches within 5-10 feet. At one point, he achieved five consecutive birdies and seven within nine holes between the sixth and fourteenth.

Starting two strokes behind Aryan Roopa Anand, Jeev, who celebrated his 54th birthday just ten days prior, turned back time with a final round of 6-under 65, totaling 15-under for the tournament. He outpaced Aryan by just one stroke. Aryan (68), needing an eagle on the Par-4 18th to tie, could only manage a birdie, finishing alone in second place at 14-under.

As Jeev claimed his first IGPL title, Pukhraj Singh Gill, despite finishing T-12th, secured the IGPL Order of Merit by a narrow margin over Aman Raj and Gaganjeet Bhullar. Over 11 events with a prize purse of Rs. 1.5 crore, Pukhraj edged Aman Raj by less than Rs. 9,000.

Visibly emotional, Jeev was surrounded by friends after the victory, feeling both physically and mentally spent.

“I had never played in Sri Lanka before. This moment is deeply emotional for me, as it’s where my parents first fell in love. My mother was into volleyball, while my father participated in athletics. Their relationship began here,” said a tearful Jeev.

“We lost them in 2021, and I struggled to find the motivation to play. However, in 2022, I made a vow to play for them and to win. I hope this victory brings joy to their memories,” he added, gazing at the clear blue sky.

Jeev expressed his appreciation for the course and the event's organization, stating, “The Royal Colombo Golf Course was outstanding, and the team here did a fantastic job, as did the IGPL team.”

His son, Harjai, participated as one of the amateur players, while Jeev’s wife, Kudrat, has recently been attending junior events with their son. Harjai finished T-22nd.

After presenting the trophy to Jeev and draping him with the IGPL jacket, Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of the IGPL, remarked, “The IGPL could not have wished for a more fitting winner to conclude the season than Jeev Milkha Singh, a global legend in the sport. The past three days have been a spectacular display, with Jeev demonstrating to the younger generation, some of whom weren’t even born when he last won at the 2012 Scottish Open, that he remains a timeless champion.”

He concluded, “At the IGPL, we take pride that Jeev has left his mark with such an impressive win.”

Jeev’s last professional victory was at the 2012 Scottish Open, and during his career, he has achieved four wins on the European Tour, four on the Japan Tour, and six on the Asian Tour, including one co-sanctioned with the European Tour.

Jyoti Randhawa, who has competed alongside Jeev for over two decades, also made his IGPL debut in Colombo. He praised his friend, saying, “Jeev is an incredible player. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing his journey for many years. His passion and drive for the game remain unchanged, and he has always strived to win, as he demonstrated today. He is an inspiration to all,” Randhawa noted, whose son, Zoravar, also competed this week as an amateur, with both finishing T-24th.

Jeev began his round poorly, dropping a shot on the first hole, but quickly recovered with a birdie on the second. After two pars, he dropped another shot on the fifth. However, he soon initiated a birdie streak, scoring five in a row from the sixth to the tenth, after which he maintained his lead.

He added two more birdies on the 12th and the 14th, allowing him to secure the win with four pars. Jeev could be recognized as the oldest victor on a professional tour, and his win provided the IGPL with significant momentum in its inaugural year.

Karandeep Kochhar (65), who has already secured his place on the 2026 Asian Tour by finishing second in the Asian Development Tour, finished third at 12-under, while SSP Chawrasia (69) fell to a late bogey, finishing fourth at 11-under. Gaganjeet Bhullar (68), who started the IGPL Tour with two victories and added another in his third appearance, came in fifth at 10-under.

Local amateur Kaya Daluwatte (71), who led by three strokes at one point during the third round, finished sixth at even par and 9-under.

Veer Ganapathy, recognized as one of the standout players of the inaugural IGPL season, placed seventh at nine-under, finishing under par each day.

Four players, including Aman Raj (71), contending for the IGPL Order of Merit, tied for eighth with Raghav Chugh (63), Pranavi Urs (66), and Kapil Kumar (68) at 8-under, with Pranavi, the IGPL Mumbai champion, being the top female finisher at Tied-8th at 8-under.

Pukhraj (67), who celebrated his first professional victory at IGPL Jamshedpur, missed a 4-foot birdie at his final hole, finishing Tied-12th with Chiragh Kumar (72).

However, this was sufficient for him to claim the IGPL Order of Merit by a narrow margin, earning Rs. 81,90,652, while Aman Raj, with two victories in the season, took home Rs. 81,81,708.54, falling short by less than Rs. 9,000.

Pukhraj’s rewards include a spot in the USD 2 million International Series in India early next year and entry into a tournament offering Open Qualifying berths on the Asian Tour.

Gaganjeet Bhullar, who achieved victories in his first three starts, earned Rs. 81,30,000 to secure third place. Pranavi Urs, with Rs. 34,84,687, was the leading female professional earner of the season.