Indian Golfers Vie for 2026 Masters Invitation at Asia-Pacific Championship

Dubai, Sep 9 (PTI) The 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, scheduled from October 23 to 26, will see top Indian golfers, including reigning All India amateur champion Anshul Mishra and promising talent Rakshit Dahiya, vying for honors.

Joining them in the Indian contingent are Raghav Gulati and Ranveer Mitroo. These seasoned players boast substantial international exposure, with Gulati leveraging his extensive experience in Dubai, his second home.

The championship is a marquee event in amateur golf, offering the winner an invitation to the prestigious 2026 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 154th Open in 2026. Runner(s)-up will gain entry into The Open Qualifying Series, while the top-three finishers secure exemptions into The 131st Amateur Championship.

Among the Indian golfers, Dahiya stands out with prior experience at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, having made a respectable Tied-37th finish in the 2024 edition held in Japan. His stellar year includes triumphs at the Delhi Golf Club Juniors, the Delhi NCR Cup, and the Samarvir Sahi amateurs.

Notably, Dahiya marked a significant milestone with a Top-10 finish in a professional event, the Coal India Open, on the Professional Golfers Tour of India, standing out amongst seasoned professionals.

Mishra, the 2024 All India Amateurs champion, brings varied international experience to the table, including a second-place finish at the FCG Callaway event in the US and Top-10 showings in Dubai and Singapore. He also competed in several esteemed junior tournaments in the US, including the renowned Boys Junior PGA and US Junior amateurs.

Gulati's impressive form was evident with victories in Dubai’s FJT Middle East and the Tommy Fleetwood Pathway International Pathway event hosted by DP World, underscoring his familiarity with the local terrain.

Mitroo complements the squad with commendable performances, having secured Top-10 finishes in Asia-Pacific Juniors in Hong Kong, Singapore, and an AJGA event in the US.

The championship will feature around 120 competitors, established in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A, and the Masters Tournament to promote amateur golf in the region. A total of 41 APGC member organizations have extended invitations, with 117 players confirmed thus far.

The competition also boasts a lineup of top global amateurs, including Harry Takis of Australia, 2024 runner-up Ziqin Zhou of China, and notable players from Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand.

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