Arjun Atwal, India's lone PGA Tour champion, says domestic pros have skill but lack 'killer instinct' needed for international success
The 52-year-old remains India's only PGA Tour winner—a victory that came in 2010 and hasn't been replicated since. With three European Tour titles and eight Asian Tour victories to his name, Atwal occupies a unique vantage point to assess why Indian professionals have struggled to translate domestic success into international wins.
The numbers tell a stark story. India's last European Tour victory came in 2018 when Shubhankar Sharma won the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur. The last Indian to win the Hero Indian Open, the country's marquee home event, was SSP Chawrasia in 2017—a seven-shot triumph that now feels like ancient history.
The paradox of domestic growth
What makes the drought particularly puzzling is its timing. The PGTI Tour has grown considerably richer, distributing a record ₹35 crore in prize money across 36 events in 2025, up from ₹24 crore the previous year. Domestic competitions have never been more lucrative. Yet international victories have paradoxically vanished.
"Fifteen years without an Indian win on the PGA Tour is a long, long time," Atwal said. "It's about time we have an Indian winner on the tour."
Not a skill problem
Atwal, who formed Indian men's golf's holy trinity alongside Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, insists the issue isn't technical ability.
"Skill-wise, I don't see a major problem with Indian boys," he said. "Golf has become very power-oriented and modern golf demands a well-rounded game. It's tough but achievable. The real test is mental."
He pointed to the relentless nature of international competition. "European and PGA Tours are tough and allow you very little time to recover. It is important to win early in the season and quickly develop a winning habit. We need some killer instinct. You ought to dream big, give yourself limitless ambition."
A shrinking international presence
The current landscape underscores the challenge. No Indian currently competes on the PGA Tour. Anirban Lahiri, the last Indian on the circuit, moved to LIV Golf in 2022 after seven years in the United States.
On the DP World Tour, Shubhankar Sharma has been the lone constant for nearly a decade. He'll be joined this year by Yuvraj Sandhu, who earned his card after topping the PGTI Order of Merit with seven domestic titles in 2025.
The Asian Tour has suffered particularly following PGTI's strategic partnership with the DP World Tour, with events significantly drying up. India's last Asian Tour victory came in 2023 through Gaganjeet Bhullar, who has since chosen the rival IGPL over PGTI.
"It is unfortunate. I don't like the in-fighting among tours," Atwal said. "In my time, we had the freedom to play on any tour we wanted. That's how we grew and developed as golfers."
Banking on the league model
Atwal, set to be named brand ambassador for the upcoming '72 The League'—PGTI's new franchise competition running February 21 through March 6—believes the format could provide the competitive edge Indian golfers need.
"PGTI is doing what it can, but I feel the league is the way forward," he said. "The concept has worked wonders in cricket, and although golf is a completely different market, I feel '72 The League' will do a world of good for Indian golf."
The Florida-based veteran will return to India for the league's duration to "holistically mentor" young professionals. He's particularly optimistic about prospects like Veer Ahlawat and Yuvraj Sandhu, and plans to launch academies in India in the near future.
"I'm coming back to share my knowledge with the youngsters," Atwal said. "I want to teach them the importance of thinking differently. If we are able to do that, we can make some real good champions."
Whether mentorship and a new league format can reverse India's international fortunes remains to be seen. But for Atwal, the talent exists—it's the mindset that needs recalibrating.