38-year-old O.P was the top-most Indian with a runner-up finish
The recently concluded $300,000 Kolkata Challenge 2025, a HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour) and PGTI co-sanctioned event held at the historic Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC) in Kolkata, weaved another layer on what is an already relevant and interesting pattern in Indian Men’s Professional Golf – experienced veterans outperforming youthful talent.
38-year-old Om Prakash Chouhan of Mhow emerged as the highest-placed Indian with a tied-second finish after losing out in a four-way playoff to young Englishman 19-year-old Joshua Berry who was the winner. This contrast between international youngsters delivering standout performances on the Indian Professional Tour raises critical questions about the current state of the country’s young professional golfers on the global stage.
(L-R) Amandeep Johl – CEO, PGTI, Kolkata Challenge 2025 winner Joshua Berry, Gaurav Ghosh – Captain, RCGC, and Jamie Hodges – HotelPlanner Tour Director
The next best-placed Indian was again 46-year-old veteran SSP Chawrasia, followed by Samarth Dwivedi, with both players finishing sixth (nine-under 279) and tied-seventh (eight-under 280), respectively.
Berry had set the RCGC course record with a 10-under 62 in the second round and despite carding an over-par 73 on the final day, he totaled 11-under 277 to enter a four-way playoff alongside Norway’s Andreas Halvorsen, Austria’s Lukas Nemecz, and India’s Om Prakash Chouhan.
Berry drained a decisive 19-foot birdie putt on the 2nd playoff hole to claim the title and the winner’s prize of ₹41 lacs. Chouhan’s second-place finish earned him ₹20 lacs and propelled him 41 spots to third place in the 2025 PGTI Rankings.
The results at the Kolkata Challenge 2025 highlight a growing concern for Indian golf: the lack of young Indian talent making a mark on international tours. A pattern is emerging where seasoned professionals outperform the younger generation on the global stage.
- Asian Tour: 36-year-old Gaganjeet Bhullar finished as the highest-ranked Indian at 49th in the 2024 Rankings.
- Asian Development Tour: 46-year-old Rahil Gangjee finished 3rd in last year’s Rankings as the best-placed Indian.
- LIV Golf: 38-year-old Anirban Lahiri continues to thrive as the sole Indian presence.
- DP World Tour: Veer Ahlawat and Shubhankar Sharma remain the only two young Indians competing at this level.
Despite a robust domestic circuit, young Indian golfers have struggled to translate their promise into international success. With sponsorships and opportunities increasing, the absence of emerging stars in elite tournaments raises pressing questions about the developmental pipeline.
What’s holding back India’s young golfers?
The scarcity of Indian representation on international tours suggests systemic challenges. While the domestic tour remains competitive, Indian performances on the men’s global circuits has seen a steep decline.
As international golf continues to evolve, India’s next generation of golfers must find ways to bridge this gap. With financial backing and opportunities in place, the focus must shift towards fostering talent capable of breaking into the highest levels of the sport. The Kolkata Challenge 2025 was another reminder that, for now, Indian men’s pro golf seems to remain largely in the hands of its veterans.
