TATA Steel Tour Championship and (PGTI) Ranking winner Veer Ahlawat (centre) receives the tournament trophy and cheque from Mr. T V Narendran – CEO & MD, TATA Steel (2nd from left); The other dignitaries seen in the picture are Mr. D B Sundara Ramam – VP, Raw Materials Division TATA Steel and Captain – Jamshedpur Golf (2nd from right), Mr. U S Mundy – CEO, PGTI (extreme left), and Mr. Amandeep Johl – CEO Designate, PGTI (extreme right)
The transition from domestic dominance to success on the global stage has remained challenging for many Indian pros. This year’s TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) Rankings champion Veer Ahlawat, a towering presence at 6’4” and a standout name on the tour, will earn playing rights on the 2025 European (DP World) Tour. The question remains: can he succeed where his predecessors, former PGTI No.1’s – Manu Gandas (2023) and Om Prakash Chouhan (2024), fell short?
With an exceptional season this year, the Gurugram-based golfer not only clinched the Rs 3 crore prize money season-ending TATA Steel Tour Championship with a brilliant final-round 64 and a playoff victory, but also shattered a number of records. His season’s earnings of INR 1.56 crore eclipsed the previous mark of INR 1.18 crore set by Om Prakash Chouhan in 2023, and was way ahead of second-ranked Rahil Gangjee’s earnings of INR 69 lacs.
Veer’s remarkable season includes two titles and seven top-10 finishes, highlighted by a runner-up spot at the US$2.25 million Hero Indian Open, the country’s biggest co-sanctioned European (DP World) Tour event, which was responsible for his huge lead in earnings.
Tied at 17-under-par after 72 holes, the Golmuri and Beldih Golf Courses in Jamshedpur saw a thrilling playoff ensue between Veer and Chandigarh’s Amardeep Malik, with the latter faltering on the second extra hole to open the door for Veer’s fourth professional title. The biggest name in the field, 11-time Asian Tour winner and defending champion Gaganjeet Bhullar finished sixth at 12-under-par 272.
Delhi rookie Shaurya Bhattacharya was named the PGTI Emerging Player of the Year for his impressive performance throughout the season, including a win at the J&K Open earlier this year, in October.
Reflecting on his win, Ahlawat credited his improved wedge play and strategic approach to scoring opportunities, particularly on Par-5s and short Par-4s. The presence of his family, who surprised him by attending the event, further fueled his performance.
Earning a European (DP World) Tour card is a coveted milestone for Indian golfers; however, history shows the challenge of adapting to the Tour’s demands. Since Shubhankar Sharma’s breakthrough in 2017, no other Indian has managed to become a regular fixture ever since the likes of SSP Chawrasia, Shiv Kapur, and Bhullar lost their eligibility in Europe.
With a robust domestic record and fresh confidence, Veer’s recent superb form offers hope for the coming year. Can he break old patterns in the Indian diaspora and defy the odds to establish himself as a regular on the global stage? Only time will tell.