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Kshitij Naveed Kaul Fires Flawless 62 to Lead Players Championship

Kshitij Naveed Kaul delivered a bogey-free 8-under 62 to seize the first-round lead at the Players Championship. His stellar performance at the Qutab Golf Course, where he holds the course record, was built on exceptional driving and bunker play. Honey Baisoya trails by one shot after a 63, while a group of four players, including last week's winner Jhared Hack, are tied for third. Kaul attributed his success to precise wedge shots from longer ranges on a course where chip-putts are challenging.

Key Points: Kshitij Naveed Kaul Leads Players Championship with 62

  • Flawless 8-under 62
  • Leads by one stroke
  • Favorite Qutab Golf Course venue
  • Honey Baisoya sits second
  • Strong wedge play from chasing pack
2 min read

Players Championship: Kshitij Naveed Kaul drives his way to top in Rd 1

Kshitij Naveed Kaul shot an 8-under 62 for a one-stroke lead after Round 1 of the PGTI Players Championship at Qutab Golf Course.

"My driving and bunker shots were top-notch today. - Kshitij Naveed Kaul"

New Delhi, Feb 10

Kshitij Naveed Kaul drove his way to the top in round one of the INR 1.5 crore Players Championship 2026 being played at the Qutab Golf Course in New Delhi. Kshitij posted a flawless eight-under 62 at the Par-70 course, one of his favourite venues, where he had also set the course record with a 10-under 60 last year.

Honey Baisoya's 63 placed him second, while the quartet consisting of American Jhared Hack, winner of the season-opener last week, Kushal Singh, Dhruv Sheoran, and Akshay Sharma, were a further shot behind in tied third place. Former PGTI Order of Merit champion Veer Ahlawat began the week with a 65 to be tied seventh.

The 25-year-old Kshitij Naveed Kaul, a winner of five PGTI events, including one last season, drove the ball to perfection on Tuesday as he landed four of his drives close to the green. His round also featured a couple of immaculate bunker shots. Kshitij, who had a fourth-place finish last week in Naya Raipur, collected three birdies on the back nine and added five more on the front nine, including four on the trot.

Kshitij, who hails from the Delhi Golf Club, said, "My driving and bunker shots were top-notch today. I came close to finding the green with my drives on a few occasions. My approach shots were also quite accurate. I really enjoy playing on this golf course. I had a great outing here last year as well. In this course, making chip-putts from close range is not easy, so hitting good wedge shots from a longer range is that much more important. That's what I managed to do well today."

Honey Baisoya, who was in contention at the season-opener last week, having led the field after round three, continued the good work at Qutab Golf Course with an error-free effort of seven-under 63. Honey picked up four birdies on the back nine and three on the front nine.

Jhared Hack and Kushal Singh produced magic with their wedges as the former landed it within five feet on four occasions while the latter started the day with three consecutive birdies, all tap-ins from two feet.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Great to see Indian golf getting such strong coverage. Kshitij and Honey both putting up low numbers makes for an exciting leaderboard. The depth of talent on the PGTI is really improving. Jhared Hack being up there shows the international competition is good too.
V
Vikram M
Bas, phir se course record ki taraf ja raha hai yeh ladka! Last year 60, this year 62. Qutab Golf Course is definitely his fort. His comment about wedge shots being key is so insightful. Real test will be maintaining this over four rounds. All the best, champ!
R
Rohit P
Happy to see the tournament getting a decent prize purse of 1.5 crore. This is how we build the sport. More corporate sponsorship needed! Also, great to see Veer Ahlawat in the mix. A strong field makes the win more meaningful.
P
Priya S
While the performance is stellar, I do wish the article gave a bit more context for new fans. What does 'landing drives close to the green' actually mean in terms of yards? A little more explanation would make golf more accessible to the average reader.
K
Kushal Singh
Tough day at the office but happy to be in tied third. The course is playing beautifully. Congrats to Kshitij on an amazing round - that's the standard we're all chasing. Back to work tomorrow! 💪

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