Shubhankar motivates and inspires

Shona Manco

Playing at the Chandigarh Golf Course on a freezing morning, we found an empty course —  the only other golfers braving the elements were a bunch of youngsters and caddies. As we watched them, Deepinder Bajwa remarked how Shubhankar Sharma’s success this year has once again inspired a new wave of golfers. “He has motivated younger guys to turn pro and in some cases give the amateur tour a miss altogether,” he said. “This could have various effects on the game in the long run — youngsters who do not see the necessity of succeeding at the amateur level before making it a career will miss out on building a solid foundation and it will also impact the growth of the amateur circuit.”

He has a point. Golf is not an easy sport, and the amateur circuit is a training ground for the pressure of the pro circuit and life on tour. It prepares aspirants for the life ahead, or in some cases deterring them from an unwise career decision.

Tournaments like the Northern India and All India Open Golf Championship were prestigious events, the latter often deciding the national champion. The medal given to the winner of the Northern India was worn with pride and people came from all over the country to compete and win it. And before the pioneers of Indian professional golf, most gentlemen played the sport only as amateurs, for glory and pride.

Falling enthusiasm is a blow for the amateur circuit, which is already struggling to maintain its identity among various tours catering to juniors and amateurs, most often promising them college and playing experience abroad.

There is a handful of golfers like Harjinder Kang for whom the pro circuit was never an option. “I’ve been playing competitive amateur golf for more than 20 years now,” says Harjinder, for whom the game is a means to an end. His job profile is based on his golfing ability and even though he has achieved a lot in the sport, he is not entirely dependent on his golfing prowess.

But for those like Karandeep Kochar and Shubhankar Sharma, the professional tour has paid rich dividends. Sharma capped a dream season by capturing the Asian Tour Order of Merit title with earnings of $755,994, and his career earnings currently stand at $1,851,097.

Kochar, in his debut professional season, pocketed a comfortable Rs 29.25 lakh on just the PGTI Tour. While Sharma proved to himself and others that he not only had the game but the mental attitude as well to play on the big tour, it usually takes players a few years to start making money or peak.

Players used to peak or hit their prime in their 30s in golf, but it’s more like the mid 20s now. This gives them enough time to opt for an alternative career in case things do not work out according to plan. Sadly, since golf is also one of those sports where fitness doesn’t play such a vital role in longevity, players do tend to keep at it for years on end, hoping for different results and quite often losing their best years of productivity.

Shubhankar Sharma’s commented that he was “really happy with what has happened to me” after securing the Asian Order of Merit. “I’ve played in some of the biggest events I could ever imagine and learned a lot,” he said. “I know I have the game to be among the best in the world and I just want to keep playing well and give my best shot.”