Bhullar, Gill and Aryan headline Green Fuels Maritime Invitational 2026 in Visakhapatnam

Gaganjeet Bhullar, already a two-time winner this season, and a five-time winner in the fledgling AM Green IGPL Tour, is looking for more glory. The most successful Indian on the Asian Tour with 11 wins, leads the elite caravan of franchise golf, the IGPL, which has come to Visakhapatnam this week for the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational 2026 at the East Point Golf Club.

Presented by the home franchise, the Vizag Dolphins GC, this week brings together a competitive field of 60 professionals, including 10 women, and 6 amateurs.  The city, which has been hit a cyclone recently saw further rains on Monday, which interrupted the practice sessions. More rain could come in overnight, but the course has held up well, but has become very challenging now.

Bhullar’s masterclass gives him fifth AM Green IGPL title; Vimtra Chennai Lions triumphant

“We are hopeful of play beginning tomorrow, but the final call will be taken in the morning depending whether it rains overnight. However, we are confident of having 54 holes as weather later in the week is expected to be better,” said Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of AM Green IGPL.

With the race for the overall season and the individual championship heating up in the second half of the season, all eyes are locked on the league’s dominant force, Bhullar, alongside a powerhouse contingent of proven tournament winners and top-tier title contenders, including Pukhraj Singh Gill, who has just sealed his Asian Tour card for 2027.

Bhullar, who plays for Chennai Lions, said: “The field has been very competitive each week and the wins have not come easy. The conditions with lot of rain will also make things challenging over the next few days.”

Pukhraj Singh Gill is confident that his form will carry him through for his first AM Green IGPL win in 2026

Gill, who finished in the Top-10 of Asian Development Tour to earn a passage into the Asian Tour for 2027, is confident that his form will carry him through for his first AM Green IGPL win in 2026 – he won once in 2025. He said, “I am in good form and am looking for wards to a fruitful week after some solid results outside India.”

Other winners from this season in the field include Aryan Roopa Anand (winner of AM Green IGPL Congo), Udayan Mane (AM Green IGPL Johannesburg), Sachin Baisoya (AM Green IGPL Mauritius) and Arjun Prasad (AM Green IGPL Qutub, Delhi).

Current season winners missing this week are Indian-American Varun Chopra (Ras Al Khaimah), Swede Charlie Lindh (Bharath Classic) and Thailand’s Tanapat Pichaikool (Morocco Rising Stars), besides the in-form Karandeep Kochhar.

Bhullar is the player to beat

Bhullar, the only player to have won more than once in 2026, with wins in Chandigarh and the AM Green IGPL Krishna Invitational in Hyderabad, enters the coastal edition as the undisputed player to beat. Bhullar has been in sublime form in both 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The recent win in Hyderabad not only solidified his reputation as one of the country’s most clinical closers but also propelled him to the absolute top of the individual prize money rankings. Known for his exceptional driving accuracy and immense experience under pressure, Bhullar will look to use the coastal winds of Visakhapatnam to his advantage and extend his lead at the top of the leaderboard.

While Bhullar carries the momentum, the field is packed with gifted champions capable of lifting the trophy. Leading them is Sachin Baisoya, whose remarkable consistency has frequently kept him within striking distance of the top honours and his sharp short game makes him a dangerous threat on East Point’s challenging greens.

Joining him in the spotlight is the explosive Udayan Mane, an Olympian and another decorated winner on the Indian circuit, whose ability to card low scores back-to-back rounds will be crucial if the course layout opens up for aggressive play.

Aryan Roopa Anand

Furthermore, the field boasts international experience in veteran champion and six-time Asian Tour winner, SSP Chawrasia, whose legendary chipping and putting him in a class of his own. Others stars include proven winners like Aman Raj and Chiragh Kumar.

Missing this week is Kochhar, who is in Europe for the DP World Tour Qualifying School, where he finished T-8 and has earned a place in the final stage. Also skipping this week are Manav Shah, who played the US open this season, Varun Chopra, winner in Ras Al Khaimah and the experienced RVR Delhi captain, Shiv Kapur.

10 women professionals to compete

The women’s contingent is another notable feature with 10 women professionals set to compete. This year Indian women have done well internationally and some of the players this week are looking to emulate them. Only one woman has won the mixed pro event, Pranavi Urs, who also won the Asian Games gold in Japan this year. She is currently playing in Europe.

The women players this week include Anvitha Narender, Durga Nittur, Jahaanvie Walia, Jasmine Shekar, Kashika Misra, Khushi Khanijau, Nayanika Sanga, Neha Tripathi, Sneha Singh and Vidhatri Urs.

Their presence adds to the field and gives the tournament a wider representation of the country’s professional golfing talent.

The amateur contingent comprises Jashan Ganapathy, son of former pro, Rahul Ganapathy, Prem Muniyappa, son of former Indian Open winner, C Muniyappa, Krithik Kalidindi, Rachna Satsangi, Shreyas Divaker and Ved Sai Machiraju. Their inclusion provides an opportunity for aspiring golfers to gain experience in a competitive tournament environment.

The AM Green IGPL team format adds a complex layer of drama to the individual brilliance on display. Because team standings depend heavily on the top individual scores from each round, stars like Bhullar, Baisoya, Dharma, Prasad and Mane must balance their personal pursuit of glory with tactical team requirements.

Following the main event, the excitement will culminate on November 6 with the NDTV AM Green IGPL Golf Pro-Am, bringing a star-studded finale to an action-packed week of golf.