Caddie to Champ, Thanga triumphs in Chennai

By Allaam Ousman 

Sri Lanka’s Nadaraja Thangaraja, once a caddie at Waters Edge, has emerged as one of the most remarkable success stories in South Asian golf. 

At 44, the father of three is living proof that perseverance and passion can take one from carrying clubs to carrying trophies.

Last Friday, at the Cosmo TNGF Golf Course, Chennai, Thangaraja held his nerve to clinch the Chennai Open 2025, his sixth PGTI (Professional Golf Tour of India) title and second of the season. His gritty one-over 73 on the final day gave him a winning total of 17-under 271, edging out a trio of challengers by just one stroke.

“Today the pin positions were the toughest we’ve had all week, and that explains the high scores,” said Thanga, as he is fondly known. “I just stuck to my plan of finding the greens and making two-putts. After the birdie on the 15th, I gained in confidence and somehow knew it would be my day.”

This victory lifted him to sixth in the PGTI Order of Merit, his best ranking yet in terms of prize money, and keeps him firmly on track toward his ultimate goal — finishing in the top 10 of the PGTI and earning a chance to play the DP World Tour Qualifying School in Delhi in October.

Thangaraja’s story is unique. He never had formal coaching, relying instead on self-discipline, hours of practice, and the encouragement of Sri Lanka’s golfing community. 

His breakthrough came in 2013 when he earned his PGTI card, thanks in large part to the backing of Sumal and Shyama Perera of Access International, who supported him from 2013 to 2019. He remains deeply grateful to them and to stalwarts like Ana Punchihewa, Suresh Subramaniam, and Priyath Fernando, whose encouragement kept him going.

Since turning professional, Thanga has six PGTI victories to his name, including Noida (2013), Chandigarh (2015), Chittagong (2019) and Visakhapatnam (2022). He has also stamped his mark on home soil, winning the Sri Lanka Open (2015) and the RCGC Open (2017). His most dominant performance remains Chittagong 2019, where he won by a stunning 22-under.

He proudly carried Sri Lanka’s flag at the 2022 Asian Games, where he made the cut, showing that his game can compete at the highest levels.

At Chennai, it was experience and composure that pulled him through. With rivals charging early, Thanga chose patience: pars, steady approaches and waiting for the right moment. His crucial birdie at the 15th hole underlined his maturity, while his closing par on the 18th — a pressure-packed six-foot putt — sealed the win.

“I came close here in 2022, so it’s special to finally win at one of my favourite courses,” he said with a smile.

With more than half of the 26 PGTI events completed, Thangaraja is determined to finish strong. His schedule includes tournaments in Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Bengaluru and Pune, before the season-ending event in Jamshedpur on December 27.

“I’ve won twice this season, but I’m hungry for more,” he said. “The dream is to finish first on the PGTI and earn a European Tour card. I want to show that a Sri Lankan golfer can make it on the world stage.”