Ajeetesh jumps 93 places to 362 on world rankings

Gaurav Kanthwal
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 21

Chandigarh golfer Ajeetesh Sandhu has made a massive jump of 93 places to be ranked 362 in the latest Official World Golf Rankings released on Monday. Sandhu, winner of the Jeev Milkha Singh Invitational at the Chandigarh Golf Course on Sunday, was ranked 455 last week. “I am leaving for Japan and will come back for the Panasonic Open India in November,” said Sandhu, whose career-best ranking has been 185.

Sandhu is the best-placed Indian, at the 15th position, in the Asian Tour standings with an earnings of $157,171.95 (Rs 1.11 crore).

A day after winning his fifth overall title Sandhu still can’t hide his excitement of winning in front of his home crowd. “I feel blessed to have done that, not many golfer get to win in front of their home crowd. Playing in front of my family, friends and club members who I have known ever since I started playing golf is a great feeling,” said the 31-year-old, who pocketed a cool Rs. 24.24 lakh as prize money.

Runners-up Rashid Khan, ranked No. 235 with a jump of 33 places from his last week’s position of 268, is the highest ranked Indian professional in the world rankings.

Khan tops the PGTI Money list with an annual earning of Rs 61,21,653 while second-placed Sandhu has pocketed Rs 26,57,281. S Chikkarangappa is third on the list with 

Rs 24,43,403.

Panchkula golfer Shubhankar Sharma has slipped three places from last week to be ranked No. 269, while Anirban Lahiri is at the 350th spot, six places below his last week’s rank. Kapurthala golfer Gaganjeet Singh Bhullar is down to 284 from the 275th spot last week.