Manav Shah Becomes First IGPL Golfer to Qualify for U.S. Open

New Delhi — Indian-origin golfer Manav Shah will make history Thursday when he tees off at Shinnecock Hills in the U.S. Open, becoming the first player associated with the Indian Golf Premier League to compete in a Major championship.

Shah, whose family roots are in Gujarat, was born and raised in California. His appearance at one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments marks a major personal milestone and a breakthrough moment for Indian-origin golfers and the IGPL.

He will be one of five Indian-origin golfers in the field. The group includes Indo-British golfer Aaron Rai, who last month became the first Indian-origin player to win a Major with his victory at the PGA Championship. PGA Tour winners Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala, along with Indo-Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju, are also in the field.

Shah’s path to the U.S. Open has been far from conventional. Born to parents who emigrated from India in the 1980s, he grew up in a family where academics and professional careers were strongly emphasized.

“My extended family are in medicine,” Shah said. “That was always kind of the Gujarati line of work in our household.”

While his family expected him to pursue medicine, Shah was drawn to golf. He enrolled at UCLA as a pre-med student before eventually shifting his focus and graduating with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. Fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Spanish, Shah chose a path that led him into professional golf.

Shah turned professional in 2015 after a strong college career. He played at UC San Diego during the 2010-11 season before transferring to UCLA, where he competed for the Bruins from 2011 to 2015 after sitting out a year because of NCAA transfer rules.

His professional career has included stops on PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour Americas, the Korn Ferry Tour and the PGA Tour. Like many young professionals, Shah started far from the spotlight, learning the game on public and municipal courses in Bakersfield, California, before working his way through developmental tours.

His breakthrough came in 2022, when he won a PGA Tour Latinoamérica event in Quito, Ecuador. The tour has since been merged into PGA Tour Americas.

The victory proved to be a turning point, validating years of work and strengthening Shah’s belief that he could compete at the highest level.

After that success, Shah began exploring more opportunities in Asia and India, deepening both his professional career and his connection to his heritage. His father is from Gujarat and his mother is from Mumbai, and frequent visits to India helped maintain those ties. Gujarati was also spoken at home.

“India is very much home to me and it’s amazing to be able to represent my culture at the U.S. Open.”

His connection to India grew through his involvement with the Asian Tour and later the Indian Golf Premier League, which was established in 2025 to create more opportunities for Indian and Indian-origin golfers around the world. Although Shah has yet to win on the circuit, he has emerged as one of its leading performers.

“The players on the IGPL Tour were very welcoming,” he said. “It also brought me closer to my roots and closer to my culture.”

Earlier this year, Shah extended his stay in India after flight disruptions caused by tensions in the Middle East. He used the extra time to compete and practice on the IGPL, Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour.

That preparation was followed by the biggest test of his career: U.S. Open qualifying. Shah opened with a 68 at Pasatiempo Golf Club before shooting a five-under-par 137 at Dallas Athletic Club to secure one of nine spots available for Shinnecock Hills.

His qualification marks a landmark moment for the IGPL, which had never before had an affiliated player reach a Major championship.

“Manav is a prime example of dedication and perseverance. It is a proud moment for IGPL. I am sure this will inspire many other youngsters we have on the IGPL. The pathway we are creating will produce many more such stars in the years to come,” said Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of IGPL and a former Asian Tour professional.

At Shinnecock Hills, Shah will compete alongside many of the game’s biggest names. During practice rounds, he has already played alongside stars such as Tommy Fleetwood, who finished runner-up when the U.S. Open was last held at the venue in 2018.

Shah said he is trying to stay focused on the moment rather than expectations.

“I want to stay calm and give my best.”

Whatever his result this week, Shah has already made history. His rise from California public courses to one of golf’s biggest stages reflects a story of persistence, identity and ambition, while offering inspiration to other Indian and Indian-origin golfers hoping to reach the Majors. (Source: IANS)