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Journalism of Courage
Rohtas Singh, the man who inspired a whole generation of caddie golfers more than two decades ago, has over a 100 titles in his bag. But none from the last four years. That drought ended last weekend at the Surya Nepal Open on the Gorkarna Golf Course in Kathmandu. Winning on the third play-off hole, he considered the win, just like any of the other hundred odd that he has accumulated so far, saying, "It was just another win." Yet, in the same breath, he added, "But it felt exceptionally good to win in a playoff from young professionals like Harmeet and Feroz, both of whom are only in their late twenties," said Rohtas, who took to the game professionally, around the same time as Harmeet, and probably even Feroz, were born.
"I have been playing well in the past few years, but have just not been scoring on the course. Last week, I hit the ball well and my putting was good as well, so things just fell together," he added. Combined with this was his stint with the Australian pro Kel Lywellyn who was in thecountry earlier this summer.
Reflecting on the improvements that Kel has made to his game, he said: "I practised a lot after working on my game with Kel. Basically we concentrated on my short game, which was a problem area for me, as that is what helps one to score. It’s not yet hundred percent, but has definitely improved for the better," added Rohtas.
In the event, which was reduced to 36 holes because of rain and a local bandh, Rohtas shot three under on the first day, two shots behind the first round leader Feroz. A one over card on the next day left him tied for the lead with Harmeet Kahlon and Feroz. Not only did he sink a 10-foot putt on the first playoff hole, just to stay alive. On the second, he came close to winning with a six-footer, which stopped near the lip. And finally on the third play-off he sank a 20-footer for birdie. Harmeet, who was lying about ten feet away missed, succumbing to the pressure.
"It is a beautiful golf course and even though the first round was washed out due to therain, it played reasonably well," said Rohtas of the course in the Nepalese capital. Asked whether the fact that it was a two-day event helped him, he remarked: "It may have helped, but I am used to participating in two-day events as we used to have quite a few of them when the circuit had just started."
A senior professional, Rohtas has been playing on the circuit one could hardly call it so in the early days for 28 years. But he has not had enough, "I am not even thinking of retiring right now. I want to play and enjoy myself some more while I am at it," he says.
In fact golf has now become a way of life for his family. "My son and younger daughter have started playing golf and they participated in the junior camp organised by the Delhi Golf club this year. My son has been playing for the last three years and my daughter started a year ago. It is good, but I would like then to study as well, as in golf there are no guarantees," he remarked.
However, he does have a regret, and that is whenever hischildren are on the course, he is not around often enough to guide or help them with the learning process. "But we visit different courses regularly and that’s how we spend our outings."
Coming as it did after a gap of four years, one would well assume that the Kathmandu win would mean a lot. It probably does, but it is his four World Cup appearances between 1983 and 1988 and two Dunhill Cup representations in 1990 and 1991, that Rohtas recalls with a lot of nostalgia liberally laced with pride. Yet, there is no mistaking that extra spring in his walk, as he moves away. To another event. And who knows, maybe another win.
