In an exhilarating conclusion to the PGTI Open 2026, South Africa's MJ Daffue clinched victory with a solid performance, finishing the tournament with a bogey-free final round. His 69 propelled him to an impressive 21-under par 267, one stroke ahead of American Jhared Hack and India's own Saptak Talwar, who tied for the second spot.
"I am really pleased," Daffue remarked post-game. "The first one gets something off your back, but this time, I believed I could do it. I knew I was comfortable, and I have brought some momentum from the last few weeks."
Held at the Classic Golf & Country Club in Nuh on March 23, this event marked another significant achievement for Daffue, who earlier secured a title on the HotelPlanner Tour just two months prior. With this latest triumph, he ascends to the pinnacle of the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings.
"I have been patient,” Daffue said. “I have been working with a sports psychologist, and my moto has been 'dogged, determination and patience' and that helped me out there today."
Daffue commenced the final day with a comfortable four-stroke advantage. His journey to victory was characterized by six unfinished holes from his previous round—ultimately concluding with a 67. Despite a slow start during his final round, he regained momentum by sinking a birdie at the ninth hole, followed by an eagle on the par-five fourteenth.
Saptak Talwar, who entered the day in third place and two shots behind the leader, found himself struggling early on. His first eight holes featured seven pars and a solitary bogey, but he turned his game around on the last ten holes.
Reflecting on his performance, Talwar stated, "I started off a little tentative on the first eight holes today. But I was proud of the fight I showed on the last 10 holes. Coming off last week's win was tiring. After a win, you have to put your expectations back in check. You've got to reset and start from zero. That's what I did well by putting myself in a good position after the first two rounds this week."
His impressive comeback included five birdies on the back nine, capped by a crucial 10-foot conversion on the 13th hole, which he recognized as pivotal to his success. "The birdie on the 13th was the turning point for me today. It set me up for a good finishing stretch. Importantly, I kept the bogeys to a minimum for the second successive week. I had just two bogeys this week. My iron game has been sharp, and my putter has also started firing," Talwar noted.
The second-place finish has elevated Talwar’s earnings to Rs 70,30,200, solidifying his lead in the PGTI Order of Merit.
Jhared Hack, the winner of the season opener, also put forth a remarkable effort, achieving a bogey-free 65 to finish tied for second with Talwar at 20-under 268. This result places Hack second in the PGTI merit list, with earnings of Rs 64,96,800.
Other notable Indian performances included Yuvraj Sandhu, who finished tied for sixth at 16-under 272, and Ravi Kumar, whose total of 15-under 273 earned him a tie for ninth. Rashid Khan and Pritish Singh Karayat both shared the 17th position at 13-under 275.
As the PGTI tour continues, Talwar's recent performances offer a promising outlook as he prepares for the upcoming Indian Open next week. With his confidence bolstered by consecutive strong finishes and a strategic reset following recent success, Talwar aims to build on his momentum.
For Daffue, the triumph solidifies his positioning as a competitive force in the international golfing arena, and golf enthusiasts are eager to see if he can maintain this trajectory in the future.