Akshay Sharma produced a flawless final-round 8-under 64 to clinch the INR 1 crore DP World Players Championship by one shot at Classic Golf & Country Club in Nuh.
Starting the day four behind, the 35-year-old from Chandigarh surged through the field with eight birdies and no bogeys to finish at 19-under 269 (70-65-70-64), sealing his third DP World PGTI title and first in over five years.
Overnight leader Dhruv Sheoran (69-66-66-69) settled for runner-up at 18-under 270 after failing to convert a three-shot lead. Jamal Hossain (67-70-68-69) finished third at 14-under 274, while Mani Ram (69-68-70-68) was fourth at 13-under.
Sharma’s charge was built on relentless precision. He moved into contention by the turn and took control on the back nine, closing with back-to-back birdies to shut the door.
“I’ve been working hard and had a lot of consistent finishes, so it feels great to finally get the win,” Sharma said. “The plan was simple — hit fairways, hit greens and stay patient.”
A key moment came midway through the back nine. “That long birdie putt on the 10th gave me momentum. From there, I felt in control and just kept giving myself chances,” he added.
Sheoran, in contrast, couldn’t build on his overnight advantage. After a steady front nine, he was overtaken by the 10th hole. A late surge — highlighted by an eagle on the 14th and a birdie on the 16th — brought him within one, but Sharma’s strong finish left him needing an eagle on the last. A closing birdie wasn’t enough.
The win earns Sharma INR 15 lakh and lifts him to fifth on the Order of Merit — a reward for a stretch of consistent performances after a long gap without a title.
“This one means a lot,” Sharma said. “I’m grateful to everyone who supported me. Jeev Milkha Singh has always been a big inspiration — I actually thought of him on that crucial putt on 17.”
What it means: A statement comeback win for Sharma after five years, built on composure and clean execution.
What’s next: The tour moves forward with momentum shifting — and Sharma firmly back among the contenders.
Photo – PGTI / Akshay Sharma (centre) receives the trophy and cheque from Ms. Rachana Bahadur, Senior Vice President & Country Head – India at Synchrony Financial & Advisor – DP World PGTI (2nd from right), Mr. Varghese M Thomas, Senior Vice President – Brand Partnership & Communications – DP World (2nd from left). The other dignitaries seen in the picture are Mr. Rishi Mattu, Head – Classic Golf & Country Club (extreme left) and Mr. Amandeep Johl, CEO, DP World PGTI (extreme right).
