Bengaluru Open Golf Lead
Khalin Joshi extends his lead to six shots at the Bengaluru Open.
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Key Points
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Joshi said his familiarity with the home course helped settle him after an initially nervous start: “I was nervous on the first tee, but hitting my opening drive out of the centre immediately settled me down. I've known this course since I was four.”
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The Bengaluru Open carries a prize purse of INR 1 crore, according to the opening-round report.
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Saptak Talwar, who was the Race to India Championship leader after the opening round, is due to represent India at the Asian Games in Japan the following week.
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After the opening round, Shaurya Bhattacharya held third place outright at six under, while Mari Muthu R., N. Thangaraja, Saptak Talwar and Himmat Singh Rai shared fourth at five under; Himmat reached that score despite a bogey and double bogey offset by eight birdies.
Khalin Joshi stretched his grip on the Bengaluru Open with a four-under 68 in the second round, extending his lead to six shots at the halfway stage. The 34-year-old Bengaluru golfer sits at 15-under 129 after opening the tournament with a career-low, bogey-free 61 that featured nine birdies and an eagle IANS Live.
Joshi, who won the Nava Raipur Open the previous week, is on pace for his 10th DP World PGTI title News18. Local teenager Manoj S. trails in second place at nine under after shooting a two-under 70, while four other players — Manu Gandas, Saptak Talwar, Shaurya Bhattacharya and Himmat Singh Rai — remain within striking distance heading into the weekend.
Joshi Settles Nerves With Career-Best Opening Round
Joshi's 11-under 61 in round one set the tone for his dominant run. The Bengaluru golfer said his nerves on the first tee quickly dissolved after a solid drive. "I was nervous on the first tee, but hitting my opening drive out of the centre immediately settled me down," Joshi said. "I've known this course since I was four." His familiarity with the course became an obvious advantage.
The bogey-free round included nine birdies and one eagle, marking a career-low performance. Back-to-back wins — he won the Nava Raipur Open days before — built momentum heading into round two. His four-under 68 on day two showed consistency and control as he managed the pressure of a commanding lead.
The Chase Tightens Behind Joshi's Six-Shot Cushion
Manoj S., a local teenager, carded a two-under 70 to hold second place at nine under, six shots back from Joshi. The gap is substantial but not insurmountable heading into the final 36 holes. Four players — Gandas, Talwar, Bhattacharya and Rai — cluster just further behind, all within realistic striking distance of the lead.
Himmat Singh Rai reached five-under through an unusual path: eight birdies offset by a bogey and double bogey in the opening round. Talwar was the Race to India Championship leader after round one, adding pressure to his push for a strong weekend finish before representing India at the Asian Games.
Tournament Sets Stage for 2026-27 Season Eligibility
The Bengaluru Open serves a dual purpose beyond determining this week's champion. The tournament functions as the final qualifying event for the top 60 players who retain playing rights for the 2026-27 season IANS Live. A halfway cut trimmed the field from 132 players to 52 advancing to the final two rounds, intensifying the stakes for those on the bubble.
The tournament carries a prize purse of INR 1 crore, with Joshi positioned to claim the title and secure his spot atop the year's win tally. His fourth victory of the season already marks a strong 2026 campaign Daily Hunt.
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