Ajeetesh Sandhu Leads Chennai Open by 3 Shots

Ajeetesh Sandhu fired a bogey-free four-under 68 to extend his lead to three shots after the third round of the Chennai Open 2026.

The 37-year-old Chandigarh golfer began the day with a two-stroke advantage and posted an error-free round consisting of four birdies to move to 17-under 199 heading into the final round.

Kolkata’s Viraj Madappa fired the day’s lowest score, a nine-under 63, to climb nine places from tied 11th to second at 14-under 202.

Madappa recorded an eagle on the par-four sixth, eight birdies and a solitary bogey in his round. Overnight second-placed Stepan Danek of the Czech Republic slipped to third at 13-under 203.

Chandigarh’s Jairaj Singh Sandhu climbed from tied seventh into a share of fourth at 12-under 204 alongside Noida’s Amardeep Malik.

Ajeetesh Sandhu was pleased to negotiate the added pressure of leading without dropping a shot. He said it was a solid round and the feeling is naturally a little different when you begin the day in the lead.

Birdies on the ninth and 10th helped Sandhu build momentum after a steady start. He said the birdies on the ninth and 10th were particularly important as they helped him settle down and regain momentum.

Sandhu has tried to keep his approach uncomplicated, concentrating on the immediate task rather than the leaderboard. He said his aim is to give every shot his full attention.

Despite holding a three-stroke advantage, Sandhu expects a strong final-round challenge on a course offering several birdie opportunities. He said he’ll have to remain aggressive and continue making birdies.

Sandhu also believes his Asian Tour experience has helped him manage Chennai’s hot and humid weather. He said managing your body is an important part of playing in such conditions.

The final round of the Chennai Open 2026 will be played on September 11, 2026, at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course.

The tournament has a prize purse of INR 1 crore and is powered by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL).

Ajeetesh Sandhu is a five-time DP World PGTI winner and former Asian Tour champion. He is looking to win his sixth title on the DP World PGTI tour.

The Chennai Open 2026 has seen some exciting golf over the past three days, with several players still in contention for the title.

The final round is expected to be closely contested, with several players looking to overhaul Sandhu’s lead.

The Chennai Open 2026 is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the DP World PGTI tour, and the winner will take home a significant prize purse.

The tournament has attracted some of the best golfers from India and around the world, and the final round is expected to be thrilling.

In the end, it will be a test of endurance and skill for the golfers, and the winner will be the one who can handle the pressure and come out on top.