Jakarta, July 26 - Gaganjeet Bhullar announced his arrival as the next big golfing star from India when he turned in yet another dominating performance with a flawless five-under 67 to win the Indonesia President Invitational 2009 Sunday, his first professional title on the Asian Tour.
He buried the ghosts of 2007 and totalled a brilliant 22-under 266 with rounds of 69, 68, 62 and 67.
At 21, Bhullar becomes the youngest Indian to win a title on an International Tour, beating the previous record of Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur, who were both 23 when they won their first title in Asia. Jeev won the 1994 Shinhan Donghae Open a year before the Asian Tour was born and Kapur won the Volvo Masters of Asia in 2005.
Bhullar, who flew in straight from Turnberry after making his Major debut at the British Open dominated the final two rounds, which included a stunning 10-under 62. Earlier in the season he won three titles on the Indian PGTI tour, as he marked himself as the new face of Indian golf.
'It feels good to land my first title on Asian Tour. I had earlier said that after playing the British Open, winning a title on Asian Tour was my next goal. I have been fortunate to achieve it in the very next week. After the disappointment of 2007, where I lost the title as Juvic Pagunsan had a birdie-eagle finish, it is indeed a great feeling,' said Bhullar, who last week missed the cut at British Open but said he was better-off because of the experience.
He showed how well the experience had paid off. Bhullar, despite being the third round leader, finished 40 minutes before second placed Adam Blyth (68), who ended at 20-under 268. Thammannoon Srirot (66) was third at 19-under 269 and Ted Oh of Korea with a final round 69 was fourth at 18-under.
Bhullar is the eighth Indian after Jeev, Gaurav Ghei, Jyoti Randhawa, Arjun Atwal, Rahil Gangjee, Shiv Kapur and SSP Chowrasia to win on the Asian Tour. Other Indians, amateur Billoo Sethi (1965), Ali Sher (1991 and 1993) and Firoze Ali (1997) won the Indian Open before it became part of the Asian Tour.
'It was a great week. I have been very happy with my ball striking and my recent work with psychologist, Pradeep Aggarwal, who has been with me for last few months, has paid rich dividend,' said Bhullar.
The title comes on the heels of three top-10 finishes earlier in the season on Asian Tour and three titles on Indian PGTI Tour.