‘I told Jeev I have a feeling he’s going to do well’

‘‘We had both talked about trying a different mental attitude this year. We probably realised that we had been wanting a title too badly, and needed to let go a bit,’’ says Johl, who has since had a better run with two top-three finishes this year.

‘‘A week before the China Open, Jeev had been putting well in practice. I told him I have a feeling he is going to do well. He agreed too, and he won,’’ says Johl, adding, ‘‘He has paid his dues, hopefully I will as well.’’

More importantly, though, Johl believes the win will have a huge fallout on other golfers as well—both young and old. ‘‘He has set the pace. And if one of us can do it, then we all can,’’ he says.

With his focus on mental approach, Johl fancies his chances at the Aamby Valley golf course, which is being touted as one that requires patience and strategy.

‘‘Jeev’s win has been the icing on the cake—to make a comeback after struggling,’’ says Gaurav Ghei, who had been the first Indian to qualify for the British Open in 1997, but has not won on the Asian Tour for a decade now. ‘‘His win is great for all players who haven’t won, to have belief in themselves, knowing a turnaround can occur any time,’’ says Ghei.

Another Indian, who calls golf his “second innings” in sport, believes Jeev’s success will have a positive effect especially on his peers. Says Kapil Dev: ‘‘It’s like in Mumbai, if a bowler gets Sachin out, all bowlers start believing they can do it as well.

13TH LEG OF ASIAN GOLF TOUR

Aamby Valley Asian Masters

• With $400,000 prize-money, the Asian Tour heads out of Delhi and Kolkata for the first time in India

• 144 players in the fray from 22 countries, including Australian Terry Pilkadaris and Canadian Rick Gibson

• 59 Indian golfers, including Amandeep Johl, Ashok Kumar, Firoz Ali, Gaurav Ghei, Rahil Gangjee and Mukesh Kumar

• Indians have always been successful on home. Since 1998, Indians have won nine of the 14 events in India –sanasi.kelkar@expressindia.com