Jamshedpur, Dec 22 (NationPress) It was a remarkable day for Veer Ahlawat from Gurugram as he celebrated a double victory on Sunday. The 28-year-old had already secured the No. 1 position in the PGTI Ranking before the final event of the 2024 PGTI season. He showcased an outstanding performance with the day’s best score of seven-under 64 and won in a playoff against Amardeep Malik to take home the season-ending Championship, a prestigious Rs 3 crore event, conducted at the Beldih and Golmuri Golf Courses in Jamshedpur.
Veer Ahlawat (67-68-68-64) triumphed over Amardeep Malik (67-64-71-65) on the second playoff hole after they were tied at 17-under 267 following the regulation 72 holes.
N Thangaraja from Sri Lanka (67) secured third place with a score of 16-under 268, while Chandigarh’s Yuvraj Sandhu (67) and two-time Tour Championship winner Udayan Mane (70) from Pune finished tied for fourth at 14-under 270.
Indian golfing star and two-time Tour Championship winner Gaganjeet Bhullar (69) finished in ninth place at 10-under 274.
Veer Ahlawat was awarded a winning cheque of Rs 45 lakh, elevating his total earnings for the season to an impressive Rs 1,56,35,724. This achievement broke the previous record for season earnings on the PGTI, which was Rs 1,18,26,059, held by Om Prakash Chouhan in 2023.
Standing at six feet four inches, Veer, representing the DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram, claimed two titles and achieved seven top-10 finishes throughout the season. Notably, he was a runner-up at the Indian Open, a co-sanctioned event with the DP World Tour. With this accomplishment, he became the second player, after Om Prakash Chouhan, to surpass the Rs 1 crore mark in season earnings on the PGTI. His victory in the Order of Merit has earned him a spot on the DP World Tour for the 2025 season.
Bengaluru's Rahil Gangjee finished in second place on the PGTI Ranking with season earnings of Rs 69,21,582. Rahil secured eighth place in Jamshedpur, concluding his season with a total of 11-under 273.
The tournament format saw half the players complete their first nine holes at Golmuri Golf Course and the second nine at Beldih, while the other half did the reverse. The par for the round was set at 71. The leading groups began at Golmuri and finished at Beldih.
Starting the final round tied for sixth and four shots off the lead, Veer began with an explosive performance on the front nine, scoring an eagle and two birdies before the turn, landing his ball within four feet on two occasions and sinking a 20-footer. Following a bogey on the 11th hole, Veer regained momentum with four birdies, ensuring he had no putts longer than 10 feet on the greens.
Amardeep Malik, who played without a bogey, led for a significant portion of the day with five birdies on the front nine. However, he encountered a slowdown on the back nine, managing only one birdie but avoiding any errors.
As the playoff commenced on the 18th hole, Amardeep had the upper hand with a better playoff record, having won one out of two previous encounters, while Veer had lost both his previous playoff matches. On the first playoff hole, Amardeep faced disappointment with a lip-out from 20 feet that could have secured him a birdie and perhaps the win.
On the second playoff hole, Amardeep hit over the green and missed his chip-putt for par, while Veer maintained his composure and made the crucial par to secure his fourth professional title. Amardeep's runner-up finish earned him Rs 30 lakh, moving him from 23rd to sixth place in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Veer Ahlawat expressed, “At the start of the round, I knew I had to go really low. I aimed to score on all the Par-5s and short Par-4s. My wedge play had been strong all week, which boosted my confidence. I had been working hard on my wedge game, and it paid off today.
“In the playoff, I utilized my favorite club, the gap wedge, effectively. I felt an advantage in the playoff as the 18th hole suited my game, being tailor-made for my fade shot.
“My family, including my parents and wife, surprised me by coming to Jamshedpur yesterday. Their support on the course today motivated me immensely, and I’m pleased to have made them proud.
“This season has been fantastic for me, and I take great satisfaction in my consistent performance. Winning the PGTI Order of Merit was a significant goal, and I’m thrilled to have accomplished that. I look forward to competing on the DP World Tour in 2025 and am preparing for the different conditions in Europe.”
Local professionals from Jamshedpur, Karan Taunk (four-over 288) and Kurush Heerjee (10-over 294), finished tied for 47th and 54th respectively.
Meanwhile, Shaurya Bhattacharya, a 21-year-old rookie from Delhi, was awarded the PGTI Emerging Player of the Year title with season earnings of Rs 23,14,017, the highest among newcomers. Despite finishing tied for 45th at three-over 287 in the season-ending event, he achieved a commendable 28th position in the PGTI Order of Merit due to his win and four additional top-20 placements this season.
