Khalin Joshi Dominates at Royal Springs, Clinches J&K Open 2026 in Style
Joshi’s dominant week earned him ₹ 15 lakh and propelled him five spots up the DP World PGTI Rankings—from 13th to eighth—taking his season earnings to ₹ 34,85,575. Delhi’s Rashid Khan, a two‑time Asian Tour winner, finished a distant second at 15‑under 269, while Panipat’s Shubham Jaglan produced his best result of the year, claiming third at 14‑under 270
SRINAGAR: Khalin Joshi delivered one of the most commanding performances of the DP World PGTI season, firing a composed five‑under 66 to seal a nine‑shot victory at the ₹ 1 crore J&K Open 2026.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Srinagar’s Dal Lake, the 33‑year‑old Bengaluru professional completed a wire‑to‑wire triumph at the Royal Springs Golf Course, finishing at a staggering 24‑under 260 (63‑66‑65‑66). The win marked his eighth professional title and his second of the 2026 season.
Joshi’s dominant week earned him ₹ 15 lakh and propelled him five spots up the DP World PGTI Rankings—from 13th to eighth—taking his season earnings to ₹ 34,85,575. Delhi’s Rashid Khan, a two‑time Asian Tour winner, finished a distant second at 15‑under 269, while Panipat’s Shubham Jaglan produced his best result of the year, claiming third at 14‑under 270.
Despite beginning the final round with a comfortable six‑shot lead, Joshi admitted to early nerves after missing the opening fairway. By the third hole, however, he had settled into rhythm, rolling in back‑to‑back birdies on the third and fourth to tighten his grip on the tournament. With the rough proving punishing all week, his strategy was simple: keep the ball in play and trust the putting stroke that had carried him through the first three rounds.
He executed that plan flawlessly. Joshi added five birdies without a single blemish, extending his bogey‑free streak to 55 holes. His closing 66 was his third straight bogey‑free round, underscoring a week of near‑perfect control in which he dropped only one shot across 72 holes. The victory also continued his strong domestic form, following his four‑shot win at the Andhra Open in April.
Joshi expressed particular satisfaction at winning in Jammu and Kashmir, a region he has visited multiple times. He praised Royal Springs for its pristine conditioning and spectacular vistas, calling it one of the most visually striking venues on the tour. He also highlighted the region’s potential as a golf tourism hub, noting that more tournaments, junior programmes and coaching camps could accelerate the sport’s growth in the valley.
Chandigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu finished fourth at 12‑under 272, while DP World PGTI Order of Merit leader Saptak Talwar, Asian Tour winner Rahil Gangjee and Chandigarh’s Angad Cheema shared fifth place at nine‑under 275. Talwar strengthened his position atop the season standings, taking his earnings to ₹ 82,53,034.
In a notable course adjustment, the par‑4 11th hole was shortened to a 103‑yard par‑3 for the week, reducing the overall par to 71.
The J&K Open 2026 was supported by Event Title Partner J&K Tourism and hosted at the Royal Springs Golf Course. The tournament was backed by DP World as PGTI’s Umbrella Partner, along with Axis Bank, Amul, Amrutanjan Enerlyte, Campa, Air India Maharaja Club and Kalyani—reflecting a shared commitment to elevating Indian professional golf and showcasing J&K’s rising prominence as a golfing destination.
