Baisoya seeks revenge against Bhullar in Phoenix Invitational
Hyderabad, Nov 10 (TNT): Sachin Baisoya will get an immediate opportunity to avenge his narrow play-off defeat to Gaganjeet Bhullar when the Phoenix Invitational 2026, presented by Hyderabad Firebirds GC, begins at Vooty Golf County on Wednesday.
The two players renew their rivalry following an exciting finish at last week’s Green Fuels Maritime Invitational in Visakhapatnam, where Baisoya pushed overnight leader Bhullar into a play-off with a stunning seven-under round in the rain-shortened final round.
Baisoya erased Bhullar’s six-shot advantage to force a play-off, but the latter eventually prevailed with a remarkable 40-foot putt on the extra hole.
Bhullar, an 11-time Asian Tour winner, has established himself as the player to beat on the AM Green Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) circuit, having won six titles, including three this season. His recent victories at the Krishna Invitational in Hyderabad in October and the Vizag event have further strengthened his position.
The upcoming tournament offers Baisoya and his Phoenix Hyderabad teammates Ranjit Singh, Raghav Chugh and Arjun Bhati an opportunity to make their mark in both the main event and the newly introduced X-Golf competition.
Speaking to the media, AM Green IGPL CEO Uttam Singh Mundy said the league had completed 10 events, including six international stops, and was entering its 11th event of the season.
He said the league-integrated tour was promoting camaraderie among men and women professionals by providing equal prize money. Partnerships with golf bodies and Special Olympics were also part of efforts to expand the sport, while discussions were under way to establish two centres of excellence in India to nurture young talent.
Mundy expressed hope that the plans would be finalised by the end of the year and thanked Hyderabad Firebirds GC and Dream Valley Group for hosting the tournament at Vooty Golf County.
Baisoya said his team was in good form following its victory at HGA in Hyderabad two weeks ago and was looking forward to the competition.
He described X-Golf as an exciting format that could make golf more engaging and accessible to spectators, particularly in a country with enormous potential for the sport.
Bhullar will tee off at 10.42 am alongside Varun Parikh and Kapil Kumar, while Baisoya starts at 11.04 am with Aryan Roopa Anand and Sukhman Singh.
Arjun Prasad, who impressed with a victory on his AM Green IGPL debut, will begin his campaign at 9.14 am alongside Ravi Kumar and Harshjeet Singh Sethie. Veteran Shiv Kapur will tee off at 11.15 am with Kanav Chauhan and Danish Verma.
The younger players, including Aryan Roopa Anand, who recently recorded a victory in Africa, and professional newcomer Sukhman Singh, will also be keen to make an impression.
With several experienced international campaigners and emerging talents in the field, the tournament is expected to provide an exciting contest at Vooty Golf County.
For Baisoya, the immediate challenge is to convert last week’s impressive comeback into a title-winning performance, while Bhullar will be keen to extend his winning streak.
TNT TS
