Hyderabad: The rivalry between the experienced champion Gaganjeet Bhullar and evolving star Sachin Baisoya is developing into one of the most compelling storylines on the AM Green IGPL Tour, but there was another challenger, Arjun Prasad, ready to join the battle at the Phoenix Invitational 2026 Hyderabad presented by Hyderabad Firebirds GC.
Bhullar, Baisoya and the fast-emerging Arjun Prasad shared the opening-round lead with impressive six-under-par 66s at Vooty Golf County in Telangana.
At Vooty, the battle is no longer just about Bhullar and Baisoya. Prasad has made sure of that.
While Bhullar and Baisoya have been involved in several close encounters in recent weeks, Prasad’s presence at the top of the leaderboard added another dimension to the contest. The young professional has wasted little time making an impression since joining the AM Green IGPL ranks, winning on only his second start and showing that he has the game to compete with the established names.
The opening round also underlined the depth of the field. Four players were tied fourth at five-under 67, while another six were bunched at four-under 68. With 13 players within two shots of the leaders and several others not far behind, the tournament is heading for a tight battle.
For Bhullar, the opening 66 was another demonstration of how experience can compensate for unfamiliar surroundings.
For the second consecutive week, the 38-year-old was playing a course he had never visited before and had not even managed a practice round.
Last week, he had made an immediate impression at East Point Golf Club in Visakhapatnam, where he shared the first-round lead at the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational before going on to win the title. This time, he produced nine birdies despite dropping three shots.
The six-time IGPL winner, who has also won 11 times on the Asian Tour, was particularly pleased with his putting. “I had never played this course but then I had also never played the East Point GC last week. Maybe experience helps. I played well, and if you see any aspect, the putting went great. I dropped three bogeys, but that means I had nine birdies like half of the 18 we played,” Bhullar said with a laugh.
Baisoya, meanwhile, continued the impressive form that has made him one of the most consistent contenders on the circuit this season.
His first international breakthrough came with a victory in Mauritius, and he has since established himself as a serious challenger to Gaganjeet Bhullar.
His opening round was particularly explosive. Sachin Baisoya raced to five-under through his first five holes, including an eagle after chipping in on the fifth. A bogey on the following hole briefly interrupted his momentum, but he quickly recovered with another birdie.
He also produced an important birdie on the 10th, holding a putt from approximately 15 to 20 feet, to maintain his charge towards the top of the leaderboard.
Overall, Baisoya had an eagle and six birdies against two bogeys.
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