Manav Shah Qualifies for U.S. Open, Becoming First IGPL Player to Reach a Major
NEW DELHI — Indian-American golfer Manav Shah has become the first Indian Golf Premier League player to qualify for a major championship since the IGPL was launched last September, earning a spot in the U.S. Open.
Shah, 33, secured his place by shooting rounds of 66 and 71 at the 36-hole final qualifying tournament at Dallas Athletic Club. His 7-under total placed him fourth and earned him one of the available spots in the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
“To play a Major is just amazing, and I have had a great run at the AM Green IGPL, and now I get to the US Open,” Shah said.
Shah has been in strong form this season, recording three top-seven finishes and one tie for 11th in four IGPL starts. He has also spent time competing on the Asian Development Tour and Asian Tour.
His qualification comes during a strong stretch for Indian-origin golfers, following Aaron Rai’s PGA Championship victory for his first major title.
Shah’s parents are of Indian origin, and he grew up in Bakersfield, California, playing on public courses before competing in college for UCLA. He graduated in 2015 with a degree in political science.
He has won eight professional titles worldwide. His most notable victory came at the 2022 Quito Open on PGA Tour Latinoamérica, making him only the second Indian-American player to win a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. The first was Arjun Awal, who won the Wyndham Championship in 2010.
Shah, who now plays on the IGPL tour in India, also earned full playing status on the Asian Tour through Q-School and recently competed in the International Series.
Peter Uihlein won the Dallas qualifier after shooting 67 and 66, while Tom Kim finished second with rounds of 66 and 68. Cooper Dossey placed third after rounds of 65 and 70.
Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell also qualified from Dallas, earning his first U.S. Open appearance since 2020. McDowell, who won the tournament in 2010 and finished tied for second in 2012, shot back-to-back rounds of 69 to advance.
Kim also secured his fifth U.S. Open appearance through final qualifying. The South Korean previously finished tied for eighth in 2023.
Several notable players missed out, including Sergio Garcia, whose streak of 25 consecutive U.S. Open appearances ended in 2025. He narrowly missed qualifying last year and fell short again this year. (Source: IANS)
