'This week reassured me'- Pukhraj Singh Gill turns invite into strong finish at Singapore Open

Indian golfer finishes T26 at Sentosa, reflects on pressure, opportunity and finding his level

For Pukhraj Singh Gill, this week at the Singapore Open was not just another tournament.

It was a test of level, of belief, and of whether he belonged.

By the end of it, the answer felt clearer.

Gill signed off with a final round 67 to finish T26 at -4, alongside Gaganjeet Bhullar, in what was his first appearance at an International series event.

A week that changed perspective

“This was my first International Series event,” Gill said after his final round.

“And honestly, it feels unbelievable.”

The field was stacked, Asian Tour winners, DP World Tour names, and a course like Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club that does not allow you to ease in.

“You’re always intimidated, you see so many winners, DP World Tour players, and the quality is as high as it can get,” he said.

That feeling showed early.

“I was nervous in the first two days. It’s easier said than done to just go out and enjoy in a field like this.”

But the week slowly settled. And by Sunday, it clicked.

The round that defined his week

Gill’s final round, a bogey-light 67, became the difference.

“I think this final day was the silver lining,” he said.

Unlike earlier rounds where birdies came with dropped shots, Sunday was cleaner.

“One bogey on the card… and some crucial par saves.”

Two moments stood out.

• Par save on 12
• Par save on 17

“That really helped me push for the birdie on 18,” he added.

There was also a shift in mindset after a rain delay.

“I was sitting with Karandeep and Gagan… they told me I was already playing well and to keep my foot on the pedal.”

Instead of playing it safe, Pukhraj Singh Gill stayed aggressive.

Playing to his strength

Gill’s advantage is clear, length off the tee. And on a course like Sentosa, that matters.

“They set the course a little longer today, which suited me,” he said.

“I birdied all the par 5s.”

That wasn’t by chance.

Both the 4th and 7th holes, which he birdied across all four rounds, fit his eye.

“They set up very well for me… if I hit the fairway, I can get there in two.”

How tough was Sentosa?

Even before the final round, Gill had made it clear that this is one of the toughest courses he has played.

“This is definitely up there among the most challenging tracks on the Asian Tour,” he said earlier in the week.

The reason is straightforward.

“There’s just no give… narrow fairways, firm greens. You have to hit your best shots, and it’s very difficult to recover from mistakes.”

Even making the cut required a different standard.

“The cut is projected over par that hardly happens.”

Margins that define elite fields

One of the biggest takeaways for Pukhraj Singh Gill was just how tight the competition is at this level.

“Between 20 places on the leaderboard, there are only two shots,” he said.

“That’s basically one hole, one birdie or one bogey.”

And that changes how you look at results.

“The difference between the top 5 and the top 25 is very small in these events.”

Opportunity, finally opening up

Gill was in the field on a sponsor invite, something he openly acknowledged.

“This is all thanks to the International Series and the partnership with IGPL and the Asian Tour,” he said.

He pointed to the bigger picture as well.

“This whole vision of getting Indian golf global… they’re putting the right steps in place and it’s already showing results.”

For players like him, that matters.

“With more Indians in the field again, it feels like the older days are coming back,” he added.

Building his own path

Pukhraj Singh Gill’s journey hasn’t followed a fixed structure.

He turned professional in 2018 and has spent the last few years building his game across tours.

Interestingly, he has also stepped away from a traditional coaching setup.

“I haven’t had a coach for the last two or three years,” he said.

“For me, it’s easier to understand what went wrong and fix it myself.”

That independence shapes how he plays, aggressive, self-driven and built around his strengths.

What does this result mean

For Gill, the result is more than just a finish.

It’s validation.

“This week reassures me about the work I’ve put in and the level I can play at,” he said.

There’s also a practical side.

“This is one of the biggest paycheques I’ve had… and it really helps with rankings and opportunities.”

What next?

The focus now shifts to building on this.

More International Series starts. Bharat Classic in Morocco.

A push to secure his Asian Tour card.

“My goal is to finish inside the top 60,” he had said earlier in the week.

Now, that target looks realistic.

A step, not a finish

At Sentosa, Gill didn’t contend for the title.

But that wasn’t really the point.

He arrived as an invite.

He leaves with proof.

Proof that he can compete at this level, and that the margins are smaller than they appear.

Because sometimes, the biggest takeaway from a week like this is not where you finish, but realising that you belong there in the first place.