Ajeetesh Sandhu secures 2025 Asian Tour card

Ajeetesh Sandhu, the 36-year-old Asian Tour winner from Chandigarh, capped off a tumultuous journey with a tied-23rd finish at the Asian Tour Qualifying Final Stage in Hua Hin, Thailand. His rounds of 63-70-68-71-72 secured one of the coveted 35 cards for the 2025 season.

Sandhu made an electric start to the tournament, co-leading the field with a stunning opening round of 63. He remained firmly in the top-5 through 54 holes, showcasing the form that once made him a force to be reckoned with on the Asian circuit. Entering the final day tied-9th at 12-under, a 72 in his closing round dropped him outside the top-10, marking his worst round of the event. However, his overall performance was enough to ensure his return to the Tour.

For Sandhu, this milestone represents a hard-fought comeback. The past few years have tested him to the limit, with persistent back injuries and a dip in form culminating in an underwhelming 82nd-place finish on the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit—well below the top-65 cutoff needed to retain playing rights. Yet, the Chandigarh native has never been one to shy away from adversity.

Just last week, Sandhu signaled his resurgence by clinching the Vishwa Samudra Open on the PGTI, his fifth domestic title. That victory was a testament to his enduring class and mental toughness, traits that carried him through the high-pressure environment of the Qualifying Final Stage.

Out of 13 Indian hopefuls who entered the Final Stage—six advancing from the First Stage and seven earning exemptions through season rankings—Sandhu was the sole Indian to survive the 72-hole cut and finish within the top-35, securing his place among Asia’s elite once more.

The 2025 Asian Tour season kicks off with the Philippine Open at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club from January 23-26, followed by the International Series India presented by DLF. Adding to the excitement, American golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau has confirmed his participation in the latter event, raising the stakes and setting the stage for a thrilling start to the season.

Indian pros who missed 72 hole cut –

Player	Score	Position
Karandeep Kochhar	67-73-69-72 (-3)	T-74
Arjun Sharma	73-70-70-68 (-3)	T-74
Rashid Khan	71-71-74-66 (-2)	T-88
Chikkarangappa S.	73-71-71-67 (-2)	T-88
Pukhraj Singh Gill	68-75-71-68 (-2)	T-88
Aryan Roopa Anand	69-71-69-74 (-1)	T-101
Anshul Kabthiyal	72-70-73-76 (+7)	136
Honey Baisoya	74-70-72	RTD