Srinagar: Khalin Joshi produced another clinical display to win the INR 1 crore J&K Open 2026 at the picturesque Royal Springs Golf Course on Friday.
The 33-year-old from Bengaluru fired a final-round five-under 66 to finish at 24-under 260. His rounds of 63, 66, 65 and 66 earned him a comfortable nine-shot victory, his eighth professional title and second win of the 2026 DP World PGTI season.
Another big step in a fine season
Joshi received the winner’s cheque of INR 15 lakh. The victory lifted him from 13th to eighth in the DP World PGTI Rankings, with his season’s earnings rising to INR 34,85,575.
Delhi’s Rashid Khan, a two-time Asian Tour winner, finished second at 15-under 269 after rounds of 68, 68, 64 and 69.
Panipat’s Shubham Jaglan delivered his best performance of the season. The University of South Florida graduate secured third place at 14-under 270 with rounds of 70, 68, 66 and 66.
Early nerves, then complete control
Joshi began the final day with a six-shot lead but admitted he was nervous after missing the opening fairway.
“I was definitely nervous at the start, especially after missing the first fairway,” he said. “I began to feel more comfortable by the third hole, and the birdies on the third and fourth put me at ease.”
Those early birdies settled him down and tightened his grip on the tournament.
Simple game plan pays off
With the rough making approach shots difficult throughout the week, Joshi focused on finding fairways and giving himself birdie chances.
“My game plan was to keep hitting fairways because I knew that would give me enough birdie opportunities,” he said.
“The key was to stay in the present, execute each shot as well as I could and keep thinking positively. Seeing my drives go straight all day was very satisfying.”
Joshi signed off with five birdies and no bogeys. He stretched his bogey-free run to 55 holes and completed his third successive bogey-free round.
Across the entire tournament, he dropped just one shot in 72 holes.
Back-to-back success this season
The victory followed his four-shot triumph at the Andhra Open in April, where he finished at nine-under 275.
Joshi was also delighted to lift the trophy during his fourth visit to Jammu and Kashmir, having previously travelled to Pahalgam and Jammu.
“I’m very happy with the way I played throughout the week and with the overall performance,” he said.
“Royal Springs is unbelievable and offers some of the best views we see all year. It is a stunning golf course, and I hope we can return more often.”
Sees bright future for golf in Jammu and Kashmir
Joshi believes the region has everything needed to become a bigger golfing destination.
“There is a lot of potential here. The course is in pristine condition and the weather is excellent,” he said.
“More tournaments would attract stronger fields and more visitors. Hopefully, Royal Springs can host an international event in the future.”
Other leading finishers
Chandigarh’s Ajeetesh Sandhu, another former Asian Tour winner, finished fourth at 12-under 272.
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 lead at the top of the season rankings, taking his earnings for the year to INR 82,53,034.
For the tournament, the par-4 11th hole was converted into a 103-yard par-3, reducing the course par to 71.
