India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu produced a composed and calculated performance to make the halfway cut at the 2025 Moutai Singapore Open, one of the richest stops on the Asian Tour calendar.
The Chandigarh-based professional carded rounds of 70 and 69 to finish at 5-under 139 after 36 holes, placing him in a tie for 50th at the Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) New Course. The cut, set at 3-under 141, proved challenging for a world-class field competing for a $2 million purse at the penultimate event of the International Series. Sandhu’s ability to safely navigate the demanding layout ensured he remains in contention for valuable Order of Merit (OOM) points as he fights to retain his Asian Tour card for the 2026 season.
A Hard-Earned Passage into the Weekend
Sandhu’s performance across the opening two days was a testament to discipline and experience. The 36-year-old began steadily with a two-under 70 on Day 1 and followed it with a composed three-under 69 on Friday to advance into the weekend rounds. His second-round card featured three birdies on the back nine an early surge that placed him inside the projected cut line. Although he couldn’t sustain further scoring on the closing stretch, the conservative finish reflected a pragmatic approach from a player aware of the stakes.
An official close to the Indian camp observed. “Ajeetesh knew where he stood on the cut line and played smartly. He avoided big mistakes, which is exactly what was needed on a tough course like SICC.”
The New Course, redesigned by Australian great Graham Marsh and reopened in 2021, has developed a reputation for its exacting setup. At 7,295 yards, with water in play on several holes and multi-tiered greens, the venue demanded precision over power. The fact that the cut fell as low as three-under for a 65-player weekend field highlighted the difficulty and depth of the competition.
Sandhu’s Situation: Fighting for Tour Survival
Coming into Singapore, Sandhu was ranked 72nd on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, placing him on the edge of card-retention territory. Only the top 70 players typically keep their full playing rights for the following season. His recent performances had shown glimpses of form notably a top-10 finish at the International Series Philippines but consistency remained elusive. Making the cut in Singapore, therefore, was crucial for both momentum and mathematics.
At his current T50 position, Sandhu stands to earn approximately $8,500 to $9,000, translating into a modest OOM points boost. However, to decisively secure his card and avoid a tense final event in Hong Kong later this month, he will need to convert his weekend rounds into something special. A climb into the Top 25 (worth nearly $20,000) or better would provide the breathing room he needs. For a veteran campaigner like Sandhu who has previously won on the Asian Tour (Taiwan Masters 2017) and competed in Japan and Europe this is familiar territory. His long-term survival on the Tour has often come down to similar late-season pushes, built on discipline and patience rather than fireworks.
Indian Contingent Faces Mixed Fortunes
While Sandhu advanced, several Indian colleagues suffered contrasting fortunes.
Gaganjeet Bhullar, who opened with a brilliant five-under 67 and looked poised for another strong showing, faltered with a second-round 74 (+2) to miss the cut by a single shot at 3-under. Viraj Madappa and SSP Chawrasia also failed to progress, finishing at 3-under and 4-over, respectively. Their exits underscored how testing the SICC setup was particularly on Friday, when tricky wind conditions and firmer greens made scoring harder. In contrast, Sandhu’s steady approach stood out for its restraint and course management, ensuring he avoided the big numbers that derailed others.
At the top of the leaderboard, South Korea’s Soomin Lee produced the round of the day an exceptional eight-under 64 to move to 12-under 132 and take a two-shot lead at the halfway mark. Lee, who famously finished runner-up to Hideki Matsuyama at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Amateur held at the same club, appeared at home on familiar ground. His comfort with the venue translated into a near-flawless display featuring nine birdies.
Trailing him at 10-under were Jeunghun Wang (KOR), Kevin Yuan (AUS), John Catlin (USA), and Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung. Among them, Catlin the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion stood to gain significantly from the event after International Series leader Scott Vincent and Asian Tour OOM leader Kazuki Higa both missed the cut.
The simultaneous exits of the top-ranked players created a rare power vacuum in the International Series standings. With Vincent out by one stroke and Higa by three, the weekend presented a golden opportunity for contenders like Lee and Catlin to challenge for the season-long title and a potential LIV Golf League berth for 2026. For Sandhu, the weekend rounds offer both opportunity and pressure. His steady play has earned him entry into the final 36 holes, but the real challenge lies in shifting gears from caution to controlled aggression.
With the course yielding low scores for confident shot-makers, Sandhu will need to target a cumulative weekend score of at least seven to eight under par to climb into the top 25. That means sharper putting and greater risk acceptance on par-5s areas that can deliver quick gains if executed well. If he succeeds, a strong finish in Singapore could secure his card outright before the final event of the season. Failure to capitalize, however, might leave him fighting for his playing rights deep into December.
Singapore’s Stage Reflects Asian Golf’s Growing Stakes
The Moutai Singapore Open 2025 returning to the Asian Tour after a three-year gap has once again highlighted the circuit’s evolution into a global proving ground. Co-sanctioned by The International Series, the event not only offers elite competition and a $360,000 winner’s prize but also acts as a direct pipeline to the LIV Golf League.
For players like Sandhu, who operate on the competitive fringes of this ecosystem, every birdie is a career checkpoint every cut made a lifeline. As the final two rounds unfold at SICC, Sandhu’s journey embodies the grind and resilience that define professional golf’s middle order: fighting for points, for stability, and for one more chance to belong on Asia’s biggest stage.
After 36 holes, Ajeetesh Sandhu has cleared the first hurdle. The next two rounds will decide whether his season ends with relief or redemption.
