Viraj Madappa Wins Chennai Open 2026 By One Stroke

Viraj Madappa overturned a three-shot deficit with a bogey-free eight-under 64 to win the INR 1 crore Chennai Open 2026 Powered by Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) by one stroke at the TNGF Cosmo Golf Course in Chennai.

The 28-year-old Kolkata golfer began the final round three shots behind overnight leader Ajeetesh Sandhu. However, Madappa made eight birdies to finish at 22-under 266 and secure his fourth professional title.

Madappa, who became the youngest Indian to win on the Asian Tour in 2018, collected INR 15 lakh. The victory lifted him from 44th to 22nd on the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit, taking his season earnings to INR 23,90,042 and securing his place in the DP World India Championship.

Ajeetesh Sandhu, a five-time DP World PGTI winner, closed with a four-under 68 comprising five birdies and a bogey. However, it was not enough to protect his overnight advantage as he finished runner-up at 21-under 267. Sandhu earned INR 10 lakh and climbed from 21st to 15th on the Order of Merit, with season earnings of INR 33,47,375.

Noida’s Amardeep Malik made seven birdies and two bogeys in a five-under 67 to finish third at 17-under 271. Malik moved from 19th to 14th in the season standings, taking his earnings to INR 33,75,548.

Delhi’s Rashid Khan fired a closing six-under 66, featuring seven birdies and one bogey, to claim fourth place at 16-under 272. He consolidated sixth position in the season rankings with total earnings of INR 52,70,309.

Gurugram’s Veer Ahlawat, the 2024 DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion, finished fifth at 15-under 273.

Madappa’s victory marked his first title since the DP World PGTI Players Championship at Classic Golf & Country Club in April 2025. He had been encouraged by his recent form despite not converting it into the scores he wanted.

Madappa credited the turnaround to a more disciplined approach. He followed his third-round 63 with a flawless final round, steadily erasing Sandhu’s advantage with eight birdies.

The champion also revealed that he had been playing reasonably well without scoring as well as he would have liked. However, he knew from experience that if he kept putting himself in position, he would eventually get something out of his game.

After opening with an even-par 72, Madappa played his final three rounds in a combined 22-under. He managed those scoring opportunities much better this week, which led to his victory.

Madappa’s win is significant for Indian golf, as it shows that Indian golfers are capable of competing at the highest level. The victory will also boost Madappa’s confidence, as he prepares for future tournaments.

In conclusion, Viraj Madappa’s victory at the Chennai Open 2026 is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. His win will inspire other Indian golfers to strive for excellence, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in future tournaments.