'Goal is to win on the Asian Tour' - Karandeep Kochhar on his ambitions, Singapore Open and Indian golf

Indian golfer opens up on tough conditions, recent comeback and bigger issues in Indian golf

Speaking to travelling Indian media on the sidelines of the Singapore Open, which is part of the International Series at Sentosa Golf Club, Karandeep Kochhar did not take long to sum up the test ahead.

“I think it’s one of the best tracks we play all year, especially in Asia… I think it’s the best course in Asia,” he said, before quickly adding the flip side. “It’s a tough track, it’s a long golf course… and it’s going to be a hot week. It’s like we’re in an oven.”

The conditions, he feels, will shape the week as much as the golf itself.

“Rest and recovery will be quite vital this week,” said Kochhar. “The heat has been so exhausting that I’ve just been passing out when I get back.”

A course that demands patience

Kochhar has played at Sentosa before, but the challenge remains the same.

“You need to be in the fairway, you need to hit it a decent length…There are a lot of long irons and big greens,” he explained. “For me, lag putting will be key. My iron play has to be really good.”

He is clear about where his strengths lie.

“I primarily rely on my iron play…if I want to play well, I need to hit a lot of greens and have stress-free pars.”

That becomes even more important on a course where chances are limited.

“There aren’t a lot of birdie opportunities here compared to other courses,” said the 26-year-old. “So, keeping it straight and hitting good irons will be key.”

Form turning, but focus unchanged

The last year hasn’t been straightforward for Kochhar, but things have shifted.

“2024 and the first half of 2025 weren’t good for me. I struggled quite a bit,” he admitted. “But I started gaining momentum in the second half of 2025.”

Wins on the IGPL Tour and Asian Development Tour helped him regain his Asian Tour card, and with that, confidence.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well for the past six to eight months,” he said. “But I try not to think about that too much. Just stay in the present… take it shot by shot.”

That approach has been reflected in his game. Karandeep Kochhar finished fifth in the US$ 2 million International Series Japan to regain his confidence.

“In Japan, I had three bogey-free rounds out of four. That was quite good,” he said. “As long as I keep giving myself opportunities and have stress-free pars, I’m fine.”

The bigger issue: why Indian golf is falling behind

When asked about the lack of Indian success on overseas tours, Kochhar did not point to skill.

“I definitely don’t think it’s skill,” he said. “We have the talent.”

Instead, he pointed towards structural issues.

“I don’t think we have the same practice facilities as those we get across Asia. That’s something we lack,” he explained. “We practice at home and then come out here and only get three days to prepare for conditions we’re not used to.”

There is also a shift in mindset.

“People have started making more money in India, so the fire to go outside has gone down a bit,” he said. “It’s a good thing and a bad thing.”

For him, the path has always been clear.

“I’ve always focused on playing outside because I feel like this is the real test of golf,” he said. “When I lost my card, I didn’t want to stay back… I played the Asian Development Tour just to get back here.”

He also pointed to the comparison with other countries.

“If you look at Thailand, they have a new winner almost every year on the Asian Tour. Earlier, Indian golf and Thai golf were similar… things have changed.”

Still, he believes the next phase will be better.

“I think good times are coming. The younger players have the fire,” he said.

Staying grounded through it all

Despite the ups and downs, Kochhar has kept his core team unchanged.

“It’s been almost 20 years with my coach… same fitness coach, same physio,” he said. “That really helps, especially during bad phases.”

The focus, he insists, has not changed.

“Process is everything. I don’t want to start looking for problems when there aren’t any,” he said.

Even mentally, the work is constant.

“Mental fatigue is real… but I do breathing exercises before every shot. It helps me stay clear and not think about the outcome.”

Looking ahead

Like most players, Kochhar has long-term ambitions, but he is not rushing them.

“I would love to play on LIV, I want to try DP World Tour Q School, and of course, the PGA Tour is the ultimate goal,” he said.

But for now, the focus is closer.

“The immediate goal is to win on the Asian Tour,” he added. “I’ve come close this year…hopefully one week it all comes together.”

Because for him, the bigger picture is also clear.

“Hopefully, we can have another Indian winner on the tour again.”

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