First persons

While the cricket craze was reaching fever pitch, a less glorified golfing duo were making their way across the seas to represent the cou...

While the cricket craze was reaching fever pitch, a less glorified golfing duo were making their way across the seas to represent the country. Digvijay Singh, 27, and Sheeraz Kalra, 25 8212; seeded number one and two respectively in the Indian amateur circuit 8212; are part of the Blenders Pride Corporate India Team which gained fifth place at the World Corporate Golf Challenge held at La Manga Club in Spain this week.

The army offspring have been swinging the club since their teens. 8220;We8217;ve moved around a lot thanks to army postings, but wherever we were, we were sure to find a golf course,8221; explains Kalra. Singh, who took the sport up when school buddy Jyoti Randhawa coaxed him into giving it a shot, adds: 8220;I always thought golf was an old man8217;s game. But the very effort of getting the club to connect with the ball got me coming back for more.8221;

Another myth he would like to dispel is that golf is reserved for the elite. 8220;Earlier, it was regarded as a post-retirement pastime but now parents are encouraging their kids to take it up seriously,8221; he points out. He also believes that the Army has played an important role in making the game affordable and accessible. 8220;Even after waiting 35 years to get membership, not many can afford to play at the Delhi Golf Club,8221; he quips.

The two first teamed up when they represented India in 8217;97 and since then, there8217;s no telling the them apart. 8220;On the course, there are no friends,8221; says Kalra, 8220;But both of us travel together, room together and even relax together.8221; They consider 1999 to be their lucky year, as it won Singh the number one position in India and Kalra the prestigious Nomura Cup in Malaysia.

They8217;re now doing quite well but they feel a little government support can go a long way. 8220;When there is potential to generate many more Jeev Milkha Singhs, it is still cricket and hockey that gets all the recognition,8221; moans Singh, citing the Malaysian example where 600,000 ringgits a year are spent on the top ten players. So the role corporate houses play in promoting amateur golf is really appreciated. 8220;The facilities we have here are nowhere near international standards,8221; says Kalra, talking of the training they underwent in Italy last March, 8220;While we depend on a random hit and learn method, there, your swing is recorded on video and then played back.8221;

The game has taught them a lot, they insist. 8220;I have gained much more ball control now,8221; says Singh, while Kalra feels it has helped him govern his short temper. 8220;Golf is another word for patience,8221; he laughs. It has become so much a part of their lives, they find it difficult to stop thinking about golf. 8220;We have done a lot of crazy things for the game 8212; travelled on trains without reservations and slept next to stinky bathrooms,8221; says Kalra,8220;It was quite unreal but I have no regrets.8221;

It is this attitude that gets the wins. 8220;Only 10 per cent of the game is played on the course, 90 per cent is between your ears,8221; says Kalra emphasising the importance of positive thinking. 8220;There8217;s hard work and there8217;s the right kind of hard work,8221; says Singh, but he keenly feels the absence of a specialist psychologist for golfers. While he plans to turn professional in July, Kalra will follow suit next year. 8220;Every golfer dreams of going pro and joining the league of Tiger Woods,8221; beams Singh, 8220;It8217;s a different ball game altogether.8221; Kalra agrees that after gaining enough experience on the amateur circuit, its best to take the professional plunge. 8220;The pressures are very different,8221; he says, 8220;So, we begin with the amateur, go on to the Asian circuit with Omega and finally its USA and the PGA tour.8221;