Karandeep and Co set to tee up for first star-studded LIV league
At 25, city golfer Karandeep Kochhar will be the youngest among 15 golfers from the country — and among the six from tricity — to feature in the star-studded LIV league. The first-ever international series being held in India, the league scheduled to be played at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram from January 30 to February 2.
The US$2 million event will have 108 golfers, including six of the top-20 from last year’s LIV Golf League.
The tricity will be well-represented by Kochhar, Shubhankar Sharma, Yuvraj Sandhu, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Jeev Milkha Singh and Ajeetesh Sandhu.
Khochhar, who was runner-up at the BNI Indonesian Masters and T5 at the Volvo China Open in 2023, will be keen on making an impact at the mega event.
“It will be an amazing experience to play feature in the league—which is happening for the first time. The series provides a global pathway for players to qualify for the LIV Golf League, with the season-ending rankings champion securing a guaranteed spot on the roster for the following season. It will be a great atmosphere,” Kochhar, who has been playing full-time on the Asian Tour since 2022 after turning professional in 2017, said.
Bhullar, an 11-time Asian Tour winner, will also have strong local support. Veterans Jeev, SSP Chawrasia, and Shiv Kapur, while Ajeetesh, Rashid Khan and Rahil Gangjee, all proven winners on the Asian Tour with a combined five titles, will add value to the competition. Yuvraj, who finished T4 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in October, will also be looking to make the most of the opportunity.
The group will face stiff competition from reigning US Open champion and Crushers Captain Bryson DeChambeau will also be in action. He will be joined by teammates Paul Casey (11) and Anirban Lahiri. Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz of Torque GC will also line up alongside captain Joaquin Niemann and compatriot Abraham Ancer.
As many as 15 LIV Golf League stars and nine notable winners from the Asian Tour’s 2024 season will be also teeing it up at the event.
Speaking about the competitive field, Kochhar, a former top junior for India, said, “The field is very challenging and conditions will be tough to play given the sudden dip in temperature during afternoon hours. I am very well prepared and excited to play with the support of my seniors,”
Other confirmations include Mito Pereira and Sebastian Munoz, who make it a clean sweep of Torque GC players, while Harold Varner III who played for 4Aces GC in 2024, also brings his talent to the iconic Gary Player-designed course at DLF Golf and Country Club.
