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{{Short description|Indian professional golfer (born 1986)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox golfer
| name = Rahul Bajaj
| image = Professional Golfer Rahul Bajaj.jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Bajaj at the Noida Golf Course
| full_name =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|8|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir]], India
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| height = 5 ft 10 in
| weight = 
| nationality = {{IND}}
| residence = [[New Delhi, India]]
| spouse =
| partner =
| children =
| college =
| yearpro = 2011
| retired = 
| tour =
| extour = [[Asian Tour]]<br />[[Professional Golf Tour of India]]
| prowins = 1
| pgawins = 
| eurowins = 
| japwins = 
| asiawins = 
| sunwins = 
| auswins = 
| nwidewins = 
| chalwins = 
| champwins = 
| seneurowins = 
| otherwins = 
| majorwins = 
| masters = 
| pga = 
| usopen = 
| open = 
| wghofid = 
| wghofyear = 
| award1 = 
| year1 = 
| award2 = 
| year2 =
| awardssection = 
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCompetition|[[2010 Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Golf at the 2010 Asian Games|2010 Guangzhou]]|[[Golf at the 2010 Asian Games – Men's team|Men's team]]}}
}}
'''Rahul Bajaj''' (born 18 August 1986) is an Indian [[professional golfer]]. As an amateur, he was part of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the [[Golf at the 2010 Asian Games|2010 Asian Games]]. Bajaj turned professional a year later at the 2011 [[Indian Open (golf)|Indian Open]]. He played on the [[Professional Golf Tour of India]] (PGTI) between from 2012 to 2018<ref name="PGTI">{{Cite web |title=Rahul Bajaj – 2018 |url=http://www.pgtofindia.com/player/004O/0C |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Professional Golf Tour of India}}</ref> and won once on the PGTI's Feeder Tour, in 2012.<ref name="pgtofindia.com">{{Cite web |title=2012 PGTI Feeder Tour – Jaipur |url=http://www.pgtofindia.com/tournament/130/score#tab-score |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Professional Golf Tour of India}}</ref> He also played on the [[Asian Tour]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rahul Bajaj |url=https://www.owgr.com/en/Ranking/PlayerProfile.aspx?playerID=13516&year=2017 |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Official World Golf Ranking |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813194253/http://www.owgr.com/en/Ranking/PlayerProfile.aspx?playerID=13516&year=2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Asian Development Tour]] (ADT), the [[MENA Tour]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Rahul Bajaj |url=https://menatour.golf/player/2238/rahul-bajaj |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=MENA Tour}}</ref>

Bajaj currently teaches golf at Noida Golf Course<ref name="hindustantimes.com">{{Cite web |date=6 April 2020 |title=Teamwork: Golfers, clubs come to the aid of daily-wage caddies |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/teamwork-golfers-clubs-come-to-the-aid-of-daily-wage-caddies/story-U8f67H2Lo2Dp1IxPBu6obP.html |access-date=2 March 2021 |newspaper=Hindustan Times}}</ref> and runs his own online golf equipment company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 May 2020 |title=Should golf, ideal for social distancing, be allowed to open for play? |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/should-golf-ideal-for-social-distancing-be-allowed-to-open-for-play/1961427/ |access-date=2 March 2021 |newspaper=The Financial Express}}</ref>

== Background ==
Rahul was born in Jammu, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. His father is Col. Pradeep Kumar Bajaj, a now retired Army Officer. His mother is Suman Bajaj is a designer who owns her own boutique. His sister Shweta Bajaj is a freelance journalist<ref name="hindustantimes.com"/> who has in the past worked for Zee News and News X.

Bajaj went to Army Public School in Noida. He also has a Commerce degree from [[Delhi University]]'s [[School of Open Learning]]. As a child, Rahul watched his father play golf at Noida Golf Course (NGC). He took up the game himself at the age of 15.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2010 |title=Rahul brings laurels to NGC... |work=Hole in One – Official Newsletter of the Noida Golf Club |url=https://www.noidagolfcourse.com/download/September%202010%20HIO.pdf |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref>

== Amateur career ==
In 2006, Bajaj started participating in amateur tournaments organized by the [[Indian Golf Union]]. He won his first amateur tournament at the Jaypee Amateur Golf Tournament in 2008 by a single shot over Gagan Verma.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Banerjee |first=Donald |title=Rahul clinches Jaypee Open title – Manav fires day's best card to finish third |newspaper=The Tribune|location=India |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080503/cth2.htm |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Banerjee |first=Donald |title=Jaypee Open set for exciting finish – Gagan Verma hangs on to one-stroke lead |newspaper=The Tribune|location=India |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080502/cth2.htm |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> Other notable wins include the Samarvir Sahi Amateur in 2009,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bajaj takes title |newspaper=The Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/bajaj-takes-title/532676/ |access-date=2 March 2021 }}</ref> and the Chandigarh Open in 2010. During this span, he also finished in the top-3 in a few amateur events<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |date=27 November 2009 |title=Rashid clinches LG Western India Amateur title |work=Zee News |url=https://moola66652.zeenews.india.com/sports/golf/rashid-clinches-lg-western-india-amateur-title_582683.html |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 January 2008 |title=Amanjyot wins maiden amateur title |url=https://www.mykhel.com/more-sports/amanjyot-wins-maiden-amateur-title-053279.html |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=mykhel.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pugh the one to watch |url=https://www.wagr.com/news/2010/may/pugh-the-one-to-watch |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=World Amateur Golf Ranking}}</ref>

Bajaj was part of the [[Golf at the 2010 Asian Games – Men's team|Asian Games]] team in 2010<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 August 2010 |first=R. |last=Satya |title=Rashid to lead Indian challenge at Asian Games |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/rashid-to-lead-indian-challenge-at-asian-games/articleshow/6267849.cms |access-date=2 March 2021 |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> that won the team silver in Guangzhou.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 2010 |title=Rashid takes India to team silver in Asiad golf |url=http://twocircles.net/2010nov20/rashid_takes_india_team_silver_asiad_golf.html |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=TwoCircles.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |date=22 April 2020 |title=COVID-19 pandemic tough on young golfers: Jeev |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/covid-19-pandemic-tough-on-young-golfers-jeev-120042200620_1.html |access-date=2 March 2021}}</ref> Other team members included [[Rashid Khan (golfer)|Rashid Khan]], Abhinav Lohan, and Abhijit Singh Chadha. He was also part of the team that won silver at the [[2010 South Asian Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2010 |agency=Press Trust of India |title=India win silver in South Asian Games |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india-win-silver-in-south-asian-games/articleshow/5535918.cms |access-date=2 March 2021 |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |title=Jeev Milkha Singh: Suspension of tournaments tough on young golfers |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/golf/jeev-milkha-singh-lockdown-young-golfers-rahul-bajaj-aman-raj/article31405714.ece |access-date=2 March 2021 |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref> The team at Dhaka included Chikkarangappa, and Ashbeer Singh Saini who were joined by Khan and Bajaj.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2010 |title=South Asian Games: Unstoppable India bags 12 out of 13 gold on offer |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-south-asian-games-unstoppable-india-bags-12-out-of-13-gold-on-offer-1343363 |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=DNA India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India win silver in South Asian Games |newspaper=The Times of India |date=4 February 2010 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india-win-silver-in-south-asian-games/articleshow/5535918.cms |access-date=14 March 2021}}</ref> As part of the Indian Golf Team, Bajaj represented his country at the [[2010 Eisenhower Trophy]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verma |first=Anupam |date=8 September 2010 |title=Teen brigade for Asiad challenge |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/xBfjgYFanhd25nqTySjMcO/Teen-brigade-for-Asiad-challenge.html |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=mint}}</ref> where the team finished T45.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Team and Player – World Amateur Team Championship |url=http://results.golfstat.com/public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=teamPlayer&tid=2374 |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=golfstat.com}}</ref>

== Professional career ==
Bajaj turned professional at the 2011 [[Indian Open (golf)|Indian Open]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 October 2011 |title=Asian Games silver medalist Bajaj turns pro at Indian Open |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/golf/top-stories/asian-games-silver-medalist-bajaj-turns-pro-at-indian-open/articleshow/10302695.cms |access-date=2 March 2021 |newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref> Between 2012 and 2018, he played on the [[Professional Golf Tour of India]].<ref name="PGTI"/> He has also played events on the [[Asian Tour]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Asian Development Tour]] (ADT), the [[MENA Tour]].<ref name=":1" />

He won his first event as a professional at the 2012 PGTI Feeder Tour event held at Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rahul Bajaj |url=http://www.pgtofindia.com/stat/win/player/004O |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Professional Golf Tour of India}}</ref> Bajaj shot scores of 69, 68, 67 over three days to beat his nearest competitors Mandeo Singh Pathania and Akshay Sharma by three shots.<ref name="pgtofindia.com"/>

Two years later, Bajaj lost a playoff at the same event to Akshay Sharma to finish second.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akshay Sharma's timely eagle helps him clinch a playoff victory against Rahul Bajaj in Jaipur |url=http://www.pgtofindia.com/news/377 |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Professional Golf Tour of India |date=20 June 2014}}</ref><ref name=jaipur>{{Cite web |title=PGTI Feeder Tour – Jaipur 2014 |url=http://www.pgtofindia.com/tournament/209/score#tab-score |access-date=2 March 2021 |publisher=Professional Golf Tour of India}}</ref> In 2016, he led the field after the first round of the Asian Tour's Qualifying School Final Stage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 January 2018 |title=Rahul Bajaj leads after first round at Asian Tour Q-School |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/rahul-bajaj-leads-after-first-round-at-asian-tour-q-school |access-date=2 March 2021 |website=sportskeeda.com}}</ref>

Post-2018, Bajaj has reduced the number of events that he plays professionally to concentrate on teaching golf at Noida Golf Course. He also runs an online golf equipment company called Golf Garage India.

==Amateur wins==
*2008 Jaypee Amateur Golf Tournament
*2009 Samarvir Sahi Amateur
*2010 Chandigarh Open

==Professional wins (1)==
===Other wins (1)===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
!No.
!Date
!Tournament
!Winning score
!Margin of<br>victory
!Runners-up
|-
|align=center|1
|align=right|25 Oct 2012
|PGTI Feeder Tour Jaipur
|−6 (69-68-67=204)
|3 strokes
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Mandeo Singh Pathania]], {{flagicon|IND}} [[Akshay Sharma]]
|}

== Team appearances ==
'''Amateur'''

* [[Eisenhower Trophy]] (representing India): [[2010 Eisenhower Trophy|2010]]
* [[Asian Games]] (representing India): [[Golf at the 2010 Asian Games|2010]]
* [[South Asian Games]] (representing India): [[2010 South Asian Games|2010]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{OWGR|13516}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajaj, Rahul}}
[[Category:Indian male golfers]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Games silver medalists in golf]]
[[Category:Golfers at the 2010 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Rahul Bajaj (golfer) - Revision history

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