MACAO: Gaganjeet Bhullar lifted the Macao Open trophy for the second time in his career and eighth Asian Tour title overall after completing a stunning wire-to-wire victory here on Sunday.
Bhullar previously won the Macao Open in 2012.
Bhullar is the first player to win eight titles on the Asian Tour before turning 30. He is also the youngest player to achieve the feat on the Asian Tour.
The 29-year-old has now equalled Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa’s record of most wins (8) by an Indian on the Asian Tour.
Bhullar took home a winner’s prize purse of $90,000 and became only the third player after Australian Scott Hend (2013 and 2015) and Zhang Lian-wei of China (2001-2002) to win the storied event twice since the tournament was inaugurated in 1998.
Bhullar claimed a wire-to-wire victory for the third time in his career and second time at the Macao Open. He won the 2012 Macao Open and 2013 Indonesia Open after leading from start to finish.
Bhullar is the fourth Indian, after SSP Chawrasia, Shiv Kapur and Ajeetesh Sandhu, to win on the Asian Tour this season.
Sandhu shared second place with Filipino ace Angelo Que at the $500,000 Asian Tour event.
Sandhu claimed his breakthrough Asian Tour victory at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Chinese Taipei two weeks ago. He went on to secure a play-off win on the Japan Challenge Tour last week.
India’s Rashid Khan returned with the day’s low round of 64 to grab a share of fifth place on a 278 total alongside American Johannes Veerman, who closed with a 70 in the Macao showpiece.
Bhullar had last tasted international success just about a year back at the Asian Tour’s Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open 2016.
Other Indian placings:
Rashid Khan (T5), Chiragh Kumar (T19).
Shubhankar Sharma (T24), S Chikkarangappa (33).
Himmat Rai (T58), Khalin Joshi (T66) and M Dharma (70).
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