Sachin Baisoya will have an immediate opportunity to get back at Gaganjeet Bhullar when the Phoenix Invitational 2026, presented by Hyderabad Firebirds GC, gets under way at Vooty Golf County on Wednesday.
Related: Bhullar drains 40-foot putt to win IGPL’s Vizag chapter
There is unfinished business between the two. Just last week, Baisoya took the early runaway leader Bhullar all the way to the play-off at the Green Fuels Maritime Invitational in Vizag.
If Bhullar’s week, a very consistent one, was built around his shortened second round of 6-under, Baisoya’s challenge on the final day, which was again shortened because of rain, came on the strength of a remarkable seven-under round. That erased the six-shot advantage Bhullar and sent the clash into a play-off.
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Bhullar eventually prevailed with a 40-foot putt on the extra hole, but Baisoya had made it clear that the gap between the two was not as wide as the final result suggested.
The ‘Rematch at Vooty’ gives Baisoya another chance to test himself against the most successful player on the AM Green Indian Golf Premier League circuit. The 11-time Asian Tour winner, Bhullar has now won six AM Green IGPL titles, including three this season, and his ability to find a way to win even when his game is not at its best remains a significant advantage.
For Baisoya and his Phoenix Hyderabad teammates, it is a chance to showcase their team in the main event and the X-Golf, a innovative new competition, events.
Baisoya, meanwhile, has shown that he can put together low scores under pressure. His charge in Vizag was built on aggressive golf and a series of birdies when he had little room for error. The challenge now is to sustain that level over the tournament rather than rely on a late charge.
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Baisoya, the main pillar of Phoenix Hyderabad Firebirds, added, “We’re all ready to put our best foot forward and give our best. We were victorious at HGA in Hyderabad two weeks ago, so we’re coming in with some good form, although last week wasn’t great. I feel X-Golf is a great format. Having spent four years in the US, I’ve seen how big sports are and how engaged everyone is. Golf can be a little long and tough to follow, so I feel this change is necessary. India has so many people, and the scope is enormous. This is a great platform, and the players are extremely excited. I hope you’ll all come and watch us this week at Boulder Hills for X-Golf. Thank you.”
Bhullar arrives with a formidable recent record. His victory at the Krishna Invitational in Hyderabad in October was followed by the Vizag triumph. He has positioned himself as the player to beat in the league, combining his Asian Tour experience with an understanding of how to manage the pressure of the shorter AM Green IGPL format.
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The contest, however, is unlikely to be restricted to these two. The field has several players capable of making a strong run, and the Vooty layout will demand consistency as much as scoring ability.
For Bhullar, the objective is to maintain his winning run. For Baisoya, it is about showing that last week’s performance was not a one-off. And for the rest of the field, the task is to prevent the two from making the tournament another chapter in their growing rivalry.
Vooty Golf County provides a fresh setting, but the central question remains familiar: can anyone stop Bhullar, and can Baisoya go one step further this time?
