Kolkata Tigers win inaugural IGPL X-Golf title at Vizag Golf Club
Synopsis
Tennis icon Leander Paes watched from the sidelines as his Flying Man Kolkata Tigers clinched the very first IGPL X-Golf crown at Visakhapatnam's Vizag Golf Club — beating Asian Tour-bound Pukhraj Singh's Gurugram Tuskers in a time-based, obstacle-laden final that could redefine how Indian golf is consumed on television.
Key Takeaways
Flying Man Kolkata Tigers won the inaugural IGPL X-Golf title at Vizag Golf Club, Visakhapatnam on 6 November 2026 .
Team owner and tennis legend Leander Paes was present at the venue to watch the victory.
The Kolkata Tigers beat Unico Gurugram Tuskers in the final; GolfKonnekt Bengaluru Stallions GC finished third.
Top seed Vimtra Chennai Lions GC — main event team champions — were eliminated in the semi-finals.
IGPL X-Golf is a fast-paced, time-based team format with eliminators, a Par-3 semi, and a Par-2 final from 70–100 yards .
The event will be broadcast on Star Sports 2 Select , Star Sports 3 , and Jio Hotstar .
Flying Man Kolkata Tigers claimed the inaugural IGPL X-Golf title at the Vizag Golf Club in Visakhapatnam on 6 November 2026, with tennis legend and team owner Leander Paes watching from the sidelines. The victory capped a four-day golfing celebration — the Maritime Invitational 2026 presented by Vizag Dolphins — that brought a new fast-paced format to Indian golf.
How the Final Unfolded
The Kolkata Tigers edged past Unico Gurugram Tuskers in the final. The Tuskers were led by Asian Tour-bound Pukhraj Singh, his brother Digraj Singh Gills, along with Shaurya Binu and Shat Mishra. GolfKonnekt Bengaluru Stallions GC — featuring young Veer Ganapathy, watched by his father and former professional Rahul Ganapathy, alongside Trishul Chinappa, Sudhir Sharma, and Sunhit Bishnoi — finished third.
Notably, Vimtra Chennai Lions GC, winners of the team competition in the main three-day event and the top seed heading into the X-Golf, were knocked out in the semi-finals, leaving the remaining three sides to contest the podium positions.
The Winning Squad
The Kolkata Tigers' title-winning lineup comprised Syed Saqib Ahmed, Sukhman Singh, southpaw Kartik Sharma, and Ravi Kumar. Kumar stepped in for Varun Parikh, who had to depart shortly after the main competition for personal reasons. The team's composure under a time-based, penalty-driven format proved decisive.
A delighted Paes said, 'It was wonderful to see the team rise to the occasion and grab the title at the inaugural edition of IGPL X-Golf. I watched the whole competition, and it was fun with the pros playing the designated holes at a furious pace.'
What Is IGPL X-Golf
The Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) unveiled X-Golf as a fast-paced, team-based innovation designed to bring speed, accuracy, and crowd engagement to professional golf. The format is staged the day after each IGPL main event, with teams seeded 1 to 10 based on their performance in the regular tournament.
The competition progresses through two eliminators before reaching the semi-finals and final. In Eliminator 1, 9 teams compete across 3 groups of 3, with the slowest in each group eliminated. The remaining 6 teams are then ranked by time and paired for Eliminator 2 over a Par-3 hole. The 3 winners join the top-seeded team — which earns a direct semi-final berth — to form the last four.
The semi-final is contested over a Par-3 hole, with the 3 fastest teams advancing to the final. Tie-breakers include a Monster Putt decided by proximity to the hole, or a bunker shot. The final pits three teams against each other over a Par-2 hole from 70–100 yards, with added obstacles. Time bonuses are awarded for birdies, eagles, and holes-in-one, while bogeys and worse attract time penalties.
Broadcast and What's Next
Coverage of the inaugural X-Golf — including player interviews, crowd segments, and a capsule of the main event — will be broadcast on Star Sports 2 Select, Star Sports 3, and Jio Hotstar. The IGPL intends to stage an X-Golf competition at each of its events going forward, positioning the format as a signature attraction on the Indian golf calendar.
Point of View
Bonuses, and penalty clocks — the IGPL is borrowing from the T20 playbook that transformed cricket. The Star Sports and Jio Hotstar broadcast deal suggests the league believes it has a televised product, not just a novelty. The real test will be whether the format can sustain crowd engagement beyond its novelty factor, and whether marquee names follow Paes's lead in investing.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the inaugural IGPL X-Golf title?
Flying Man Kolkata Tigers won the inaugural IGPL X-Golf title at Vizag Golf Club in Visakhapatnam on 6 November 2026. The team beat Unico Gurugram Tuskers in the final, with GolfKonnekt Bengaluru Stallions GC finishing third.
Who owns the Flying Man Kolkata Tigers?
The Flying Man Kolkata Tigers are owned by tennis legend Leander Paes, who was present at the Vizag Golf Club to watch his team claim the inaugural IGPL X-Golf crown.
What is IGPL X-Golf and how does the format work?
IGPL X-Golf is a fast-paced, team-based golf format launched by the Indian Golf Premier League. It uses a time-based scoring system with two eliminators, a Par-3 semi-final, and a Par-2 final from 70–100 yards with obstacles. Teams earn time bonuses for birdies, eagles, and holes-in-one, while bogeys and rule violations attract time penalties. The fastest team in the final is crowned champion.
Where can viewers watch the IGPL X-Golf?
Coverage of the inaugural IGPL X-Golf, including player interviews and a capsule of the main Maritime Invitational 2026, will air on Star Sports 2 Select, Star Sports 3, and Jio Hotstar.
Which team was the top seed and why were they eliminated?
Vimtra Chennai Lions GC were the top seed for the IGPL X-Golf, having won the team competition in the main three-day Maritime Invitational 2026. Despite their direct semi-final entry, they were eliminated at that stage and did not advance to the final.
