Akshay Bhatia battles back to make 77...Hero Indian Open

 Akshay Bhatia bounced back from an unusual penalty with a strong finish to his first round at the 2026 Hero Indian Open.

The American played the wrong ball for his second shot on the 15th hole, the resulting two-stroke penalty contributing to a triple-bogey eight and an outward nine of 44 at the difficult DLF G&CC.

He dug deep to follow that with a bogey-free inward nine of 33 and though his +5 77 left him well off the pace in New Delhi, his spirits remained high.

"Glad I didn't shoot 80!" the world #22 and winner of the AP Invitational on the PGA Tour this year laughed. "Yeah, tough day - hit the wrong ball, which was very unfortunate, and just did not play good on the first nine.

"Shooting -3 on my back side was great and look, this golf course is hard so if I can just try and get it back to even par, I think it'll be a nice comeback for me. I'll never give up and that's kind of the goal."

That unfortunate eight - which saw Bhatia hit the incorrect stray ball and then make a six on his own ball once he realised, which became an eight with the penalty - was one of several blows before the turn for Bhatia, who double-bogeyed the tenth after going out of bounds. He birdied the next but two bogeys, that triple and another double left him +8 as he turned to the front nine.

“It's a tough golf course. I mean, I hit it OB on the first hole so it's just, like, you can hit shots that are five, 10 yards off your line and just be really in a tough position.

“But all in all, I'm just going to try and rest and just try and kind of continue the momentum I had on the back nine today.”

Bhatia, whose grandparents are Indian, thanked this week's sponsor Hero MotoCorp and its chairman Dr Pawan Munjal for their support in his career.

“Yeah, it's such a blessing. It wouldn't be possible without him, so I'm just very happy to be an ambassador for him and his company," he said.

“It's been a really fun treat so far so yeah, I'm just so blessed to be here and I look forward to spending a couple more days here for sure.”

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Cockerill soars to 81, Schott leads at Hero India Open.... live scoreboard

  DP World Tour : Hero Indian Open Tee Times Leaderboard

Yesterday I talked about how difficult the DLF Golf and CC in New Delhi was regarded by the players.

Aaron Cockerill will attest to that, with an astonishing +9 81 including 9 bogey's 2 doubles and 2 birdies out in 44 back in 37, it may be his worst score since joining the DP World Tour.

This follows at 75 75 weekend in China, not exactly a happy 3 rounds !! 

He's not alone. Much ballyhooed Akshay Bhatia winner of the AP Invitational and ranked world #22 posted a back 9, 44 which included 2 doubles, a snowman 8, and 2 bogey's for 77.!!

The clubhouse leader at -6 66 for Freddy Schott, with the late wave wrapping up their efforts.

It is an overcast 33*c muggy morning in New Delhi, not much wind.

Click on my leaderboard link above for live scoring.

edit >>>> 11am est

Freddy Schott carded a -6 66 to lead by one from defending champion Eugenio Chacarra after the first round of the 2026 Hero Indian Open.

The German, winner of last month's Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, made a superb start at DLF G&CC with six birdies in his first 12 holes to overhaul the early target set by Dan Bradbury.

Bogeys at the 14th and 17th brought him back to the pack, particularly as Chacarra finished strongly, but on both occasions he responded with a birdie at the next to get back to -6.

Chacarra was one over par through five holes after bogeys at the second and the fifth, but six birdies the rest of the way saw him to a -5 67.

Schott said: “Very, very pleased, really solid out there today… yeah, it was pretty much a flawless round of golf. Two drops but at least those were the most difficult holes so it’s alright.

“I guess it might be the hardest course this year. Your game has to be so good overall, there’s not a thing which can leak.

“You’ve got to be very good off the tee to actually give yourself some chances, you’ve got to be good into the greens, hit the right areas, and make your putts so it’s a really tough, testing golf course

Chacarra said about his maiden win last year “It’s a week that changed my life, I’m here because of last (year), so obviously thankful to Hero for giving me the opportunity back in the day and it’s just lovely to be here.

Bradbury started on the back nine with three birdies and added another at the first. Bogeys at the fourth and sixth threatened to stop his momentum but he responded in style by birdieing his last two holes for a -4 68.

Niklas Nørgaard said his round of -3 69 was his "best for nine months" as he shared 4th place with Martin Couvra, Calum Hill and Gregorio De Leo on -3, with a further nine players at -2

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

This week Texas Children's Houston Open ... Tee Times/ Leaderboard

 PGA Tour : Texas Children's Houston Open..Leaderboard Tee Times

The Tour moves to Texas for a fortnight, this week in Houston at Memorial Park for the annual Texas Children's Houston Open.

45 groups of 3 will tee it up early on Thursday morning, 5 Canadians amongst them, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, AJ Ewart off his T11 last week at the Valspar in Tampa, Adam Svensson, Mac Hughes and Taylor Pendrith.

It is not a star studded field with Scott Scheffler WD as his wife is heavily pregnant with their 2nd child, many take this week off, some return to play in the Valero in San Antonio next week prior to the Masters.

Then the Tour has scheduled a $20,000,000 signature event right after the Masters. the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head SC where the top 50 are contracted to play.

Min Woo Lee is the defending champion.

Click on my Leaderboard and Tee Times links above for live scoring.

Bryan Angus

Hero Indian Open... Full field TEE TIMES/ Leaderboard includes Aaron Cockerill

  DP World Tour : Hero Indian Open Tee Times Leaderboard

The DP World Tour's rank and file have arrived at one of the tours sternest tests, the DLF Golf and CC in the bustling, noisy city of New Delhi.

Aaron Cockerill coming off his 75 75 weekend in China finds himself with an owgr #454 and #124 in the Race to Dubai, early on in this 2026 season.

There are 46 groups of three, 138 players in all, 25 are from India, 25 years ago there was 1.

Click on my links above for all TEE TIMES and Thursday's leaderboard.

Bryan Angus

Inside this week's Hero Indian Open...ENTRY LIST

 DP World Tour : Hero Indian Open  Entry List

The Asian Swing continues as the DP World Tour returns to the beautiful but punishing DLF Golf and Country Club for the Hero Indian Open.

Chacarra defends

Eugenio Chacarra claimed his maiden DP World Tour title on just his ninth appearance last year, recovering from a rocky start to his final round before pulling clear with a brilliant birdie burst to win by two shots.

He finished on -4, two shots clear of Keita Nakajima in second place -2, while Joost Luiten was another stroke back in third -1. 

"I know when I play my best I’m one of the best players in the world, I’ve already proved that a million times, it’s just awesome - it’s going to need to sink in but really proud and just happy."

Bhatia makes first trip to India

Hero MotoCorp global ambassador Akshay Bhatia will tee it up for the first time in India as he makes his debut. American Bhatia was born and raised in California and North Carolina but has Indian roots and has always expressed a desire to play in the country. 

His recent win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard raised him to a career high 19th on the Official World Golf Ranking as part of a run of five consecutive top 20s on the PGA TOUR.

Inside the field

Casey Jarvis is back in action this week in his last start before his Masters debut and is joined by fellow 2026 DP World Tour winners Nacho Elvira, Freddy Schott, Dan Bradbury and David Puig. 

Major champion and Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari makes his second consecutive start and is joined by brother Edoardo, who is making his comeback from a thumb injury which has ruled him out since August. Andy Sullivan, Julien Guerrier, Calum Hill, Campillo, Armitage and Angel Ayora are all flying high in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and will be looking to maintain momentum alongside Gumberg.

DLF G&CC set to test the best again

The beauty is a beast but we wouldn't have it any other way when we come to DLF G&CC. Last season just three players finished under par with only the par-five fourth (4.90) and par-four ninth (3.96) playing under their respective pars. 

Since we first came here in 2008 for the Johnnie Walker Classic there have been ten events played at DLF G&CC, with the average score for a round 1.25 over par. The total of 13,458 birdies and 324 eagles may seem hefty but is more than cancelled out by 12,521 bogeys, 2,337 doubles and 573 scores of more than plus two. Rarely is field versus course more intriguing than at DLF G&CC.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

"Fitzy" captures Valspar title..Final Results

   PGA Tour : Valspar Championship   Leaderboard  Results

Since their Ryder Cup triumph last September at a very vulgar Bethpage, there have been wins for Rory, then Rosey, now it is time for Fitzy.

Last week Matt Fitzpatrick began Sunday 5 shots behind and was a shot ahead ay the Players on the 17th tee, then lost it to Cam Young on the 18th.  Despite a $2,000,000+ pay day the loss stung.

This week he began Sunday 3 shots behind front runner Sungjae Im, with popular veteran Brandt Snedeker turning back the clock right in the mix.

Well, it turned out Im couldn't make a putt, shot 74 to T7, Snedeker said he lost his game on the back nine 40, blew up to 76 T18.

Fitzy continued his fine form, 68 69 68 68 -11 good enough to edge world traveller David Lipsky 69 65 70 70 -10 with DP World Tour star Jordan Smith 3rd with 69 68 72 66 -9.

Matthew now has 3 PGA Tour wins including the US Open, and 9 more in Europe, he moves to #6 in the owgr, and will rejoin his Ryder Cup pals at Augusta with Rory #2, Tommy #4, Fitzy #6 and Rosy #7. 

Canadians  

AJ Ewart T11 71 72 68 67 -6

Corey Conners T14 69 69 70 71 -5

Mac Hughes T55 72 71 70 72

OWGR (in top 100)

Corey Conners #40

Nick Taylor #64

Taylor Pendrith #70

Next week it's the Texas Children's Houston Open as the Florida Swing wraps up.

Bryan Angus

Jordan Gumberg wire to wire winner Hainan Classic....Final Results/Prize Money

     DP World Tour : Hainin Classic  Leaderboard

• Results

Jordan Gumberg won the 2026 Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO after holding off playing partner Jorge Campillo on the final day.

The American, who only kept his DP World Tour card for this season thanks to a hole-out eagle on the 72nd hole of last October's Genesis Championship in South Korea, can add China to his list of favourite Asian destinations after a one-stroke victory at Mission Hills.

A final round of 70 saw him finish -19 with Campillo's birdie putt at the last staying up as he finished -18.

"I don't have words right now," Gumberg said as he was interviewed beside the 18th green.

"Just to be (able to) plan your schedule knowing that you have a home for at least the next two or three years. After last year's ending of the season, this is amazing."

It was Gumberg's second DP World Tour win, just over two years on from his SDC Championship success in South Africa in March 2024. He moved up 105 places in the Race to Dubai to #15, with 2 years of exemption.

Three straight pars for both of the leaders set up a duel over the final three holes and as birdie putts continually refused to drop, their scores remained unchanged as Gumberg safely closed out the win with a well-judged up-and-down at the last.

"Jorge played great all day, it was a battle the entire way," he said.

"He was ahead at first, I was ahead, he was ahead, I was ahead, it just ended up a back-and-forth battle all day.

"He hit some phenomenal golf shots coming in and just putts weren't dropping for him - and putts weren't dropping for me either, so I'm just happy to be standing here talking to you right now."

A closing bogey denied 17-year-old Chinese star Yanhan Zhou a fourth successive 68 but he still shared third place on -15 with Marcus Armitage and Adrian Otaegui.

edit>>>> Canada's Aaron Cockerill started the week T3 66 however a 72 Friday then a 75 75 weekend saw him finish E T62.

euroopeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)