Vishesh Sharma held his ​nerve through a dramatic final round to secure his maiden professional title at the Telangana Golconda Masters at the Hyderabad Golf Club here on Friday. He closed with a one-under 69 to finish at 21-under 259, one stroke ahead of Amardeep Malik in the tournament’s 12th edition.

With the win, the 19-year-old (60-66-64-69) rose from 25th to 14th on the 2026 Order of Merit, taking his season earnings to ₹30,93,550, and secured his place in the DP World India Championship.

Vishesh began the day with a four-shot advantage, but his route to victory was far from straightforward. His 69 featured seven birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey as Amardeep reduced the margin to one. The crucial response came after his double bogey on the par-four 13th. He then made consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th to retain the lead.

“The double bogey came down to nerves. I hit one poor shot and then attempted a recovery that wasn’t really available, so I paid the price. But the two birdies that followed helped me hold the lead. The lag putt on the 18th was particularly important and helped me finish the job,” Vishesh later explained.

The victory completed a journey that began when Vishesh attended a DP World PGTI event here as a junior in 2021.

“I remember watching many top players that week. To have watched the professionals here as a youngster, then compete on the same course and now win a title is difficult to put into perspective,” he stated.

Amardeep (61-65-68-66) mounted a strong challenge with a closing four-under 66 but had to settle for a runner-up finish at 20-under 260. His eventful round contained an eagle on the par-five sixth, six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Akshay Sharma (69-69-63-60) matched the course record with the lowest round of the day, a 10-under 60. His round featured an eagle, 10 birdies and two bogeys, including four successive birdies from the third through the sixth. He climbed into a share of third at 19-under 261. Honey Baisoya (64-64-68-65) joined Akshay in third after making seven birdies and two bogeys in a 65.

Angad Cheema (66-67-66-66) finished fifth at 15-under 265, followed by Ajeetesh Sandhu (65-69-67-65) in sixth at 14-under 266. Rashid Khan (68-69-63-67) and Kshitij Naveed Kaul (68-66-65-68) shared seventh at 13-under 267. Defending champion Jamal Hossain (72-66-72-68) of Bangladesh finished tied 30th at two-under 278. His final round featured a hole-in-one on the par-three third, marking a fourth ace of the week.

Ace Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar is a 11-time Asian Tour winner and an Arjuna Awardee.

But the 38-year-old, glowing with pride when recalling an accomplishment from two decades ago, believes that he is better known as an Asian Games silver medallist among the public.

Bhullar was a member of the India squad which made it to the podium in the men’s team event at the 2006 Doha Asiad. Speaking on the sidelines of an event hosted by Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) franchise Vimtra Chennai Lions here on Friday, the veteran highlighted the importance of rising to the occasion in a multi-sport showpiece.

“Golf is an individual game, and we hardly get the opportunity to represent the country. So, when we get a chance at the Olympics or Asian Games, we should make our country proud. At the end of the day, we are Indians,” Bhullar said.

“I will give you an example. I was part of the silver medal-winning team in 2006. In some of the social gatherings, I am still remembered as an Asian Games silver medallist… it has been [nearly] 20 years. That is how important it is. It inspires the next generation… many youngsters; these are the people who need to play well.”

Bhullar sounded a warning to the Indian contingent that will travel to Aichi for the upcoming Asian Games in September-October but backed it to come good.

Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat and Saptak Talwar make up the men’s squad while the women’s team comprises Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar and Pranavi Urs.

“The women’s team is a strong contender. But overall, there is going to be stiff competition… it is going to be tough. South Korea is pretty strong, Japan is good and China has good youngsters. Competition makes you a better player, like it does in all big tournaments,” Bhullar added.

In many parts of the world, golf continues to carry a reputation that has proven difficult to shake – an expensive pursuit, reserved for the privileged few. India is no exception. For many aspiring players, the financial commitment required to enter the sport can be nearly as daunting as the cost of surviving at its highest professional level.

Yet the contours of that reality are beginning to shift.

According to Kapil Dev, the man currently steering Indian golf’s future, the sport is slowly but steadily breaking free from the stereotypes that have long defined it.

One of India’s greatest cricketers has never shied away from addressing golf’s challenges, nor from articulating his vision for where it can go.

Speaking at the recent Boulders Classic in Hyderabad, Kapil drew a compelling parallel with cricket’s own journey. Once a game played, in his words, “solely by the rajas and maharajas, and not the common man,” cricket has evolved into a sport where anyone, regardless of background or social standing, can dream of building a career.

Now serving as president of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India, Kapil believes golf possesses a similar transformative potential.

“Who wants to remain poor? Everybody wants to be on the top of the world. If you get the opportunity to take one step forward, why not? Golf gives everyone an opportunity to make a difference in their lives. Why should we always say that it is a rich man’s sport? It is for everyone,” he told The Hindu, arguing for golf’s ability to offer opportunity, ambition, and upward mobility.

For the 67-year-old, the game’s value extends far beyond scorecards and trophies. At its core, golf is a rare social equaliser – a space where people from vastly different walks of life interact on level terms, often in ways few other arenas can offer.

“This is one game where an ordinary player can come out and play with the CEO of a company. All the top people play golf. I initially thought it’s the other way round. Yes, if you become a player then top people want to play with you. But if you’re just a kid and learning golf, you’re meeting with the top people and learning from them. That’s also why it’s very important to play, you become a better human being at the end of the day.”

In Kapil’s view, that may be golf’s most powerful promise. Beyond competition, beyond prestige, and beyond wealth, the sport offers something far more enduring: access, perspective, and the chance to learn from people one might never otherwise encounter.

If cricket’s history has taught India anything, it is that barriers can fall. The biggest obstacle facing golf may not be cost, but perception. And that’s a battle Kapil believes the sport can win.

The DP World Professional Golf Tour of India on Monday announced the launch of the inaugural NexGen Vijay Kumar Memorial, a special event dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary legacy of legendary, late Indian golfer Vijay Kumar.

The inaugural edition, the fifth event of the 2026 NexGen season, will be held at Lucknow Golf Club, Vijay’s home course, from June 9 to 11.

The tournament, featuring 72 golfers, is envisioned as an annual event. A total prize purse of ₹25 lakh will be on offer this year. The event will be contested over three rounds (54 holes), with the cut applied after two rounds (36 holes). The top 36 players and ties will advance to the third and final round.

“The inaugural edition is a heartfelt tribute to a legendary golfer whose contribution to Indian golf will always be remembered with great respect and admiration. Vijay Kumar was not just a champion golfer but a true ambassador for Indian golf. He inspired countless golfers through his passion for the game and his remarkable journey that began at Lucknow Golf Club,” said Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI.

The leading players in this year’s field include Bipin Mukhiya, the current leader of the 2026 Order of Merit, along with Rajesh Kumar Gautam, Abhishek Kumar, Vinay Kumar Yadav, and Sunit Chowrasia, all of whom have registered victories on the NexGen Tour this season.