Daijiworld Media Network - Chiba
Chiba, Apr 1: India’s golfing ace Gaganjeet Bhullar, the country’s most successful player on the Asian Tour with 11 titles, will spearhead the Indian contingent at the 2026 International Series in Japan. The tournament runs from April 2 to 5 at the Caledonian Golf Club.
Bhullar, who dominated the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) Tour with three victories in 2025 and the opening leg of 2026, will be joined by Karandeep Kochhar, fresh off an Asian Development Tour win in Egypt, as well as legends Jeev Milkha Singh, SSP Chawrasia, and Jyoti Randhawa. Shaurya Bhattacharya, who impressed during the domestic PGTI season, is also in the lineup, with Ajeetesh Sandhu named as second reserve.
No Indian has yet claimed a title at the International Series. Bhullar, who turns 38 later this month, last triumphed in Indonesia in late 2023. Interestingly, Bhullar and Kochhar skipped last month’s Indian Open, along with veterans Jeev, Randhawa, and Chawrasia, while Bhattacharya played but missed the cut.
Jeev Milkha Singh boasts a strong track record in Japan, where he competed on the Japan Tour for many years and won four titles. He now plays on the Senior Tour in Japan and the Legends Tour in Europe. In December, Jeev claimed victory in the final leg of the IGPL in Colombo, competing against younger players, calling it “always fun to compete against young stars.”
The field in Japan is packed with international talent. Canadian Richard T. Lee comes in after a breakthrough performance at Aramco LIV Golf Singapore, narrowly losing in a playoff to two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau. Philippine star Miguel Tabuena returns to the International Series, a platform that helped him secure full-time LIV Golf status in 2025. Despite his LIV Golf commitments, Tabuena uses the Series to maintain his competitive edge.
Other notable entrants include young stars Sampson Zheng and Taichi Kho, both with strong ties to Japan, and Australasia Tour No. 1 Travis Smyth, making the competition highly competitive.