Rashid’s rise

The Delhi boy, who set that whopping margin on the Indian Golf Union’s junior circuit tournament on his home ground at the Delhi Golf Club in June, turned his attention to the amateurs soon after. All that he touches seems to be turning gold.

This past week, the 17-year-old beat a full field of the country’s next crop of golfers at the LG Samarvir Sahi tournament in Chandigarh, making his charge in the second round, and holding his nerve when it mattered.

This was after his dominating seven-shot win at the Northern India Amateur in August, again at the DGC, the club where he grew up and what he seems to have literally made his playground, and a surging come-from-behind triumph at the rain-hit Golden Greens Amateur in September.

“These three wins have been great for my confidence,” Rashid told Sportline from Pune, where he’s playing the Lalit Suri Junior Championships, also a Faldo Series Asia qualifying event. “It does hold an extra thrill knowing I’ve been able to hold my own on the amateur circuit,” he said.

The mention of the name Faldo, though, holds special significance for Rashid, who won the Asia title this year that put him face to face with the legend. A trip to the world finals followed, as did one to Australia for the amateur world cup, the Eisenhower Trophy this past month. He might not have been able to make much of a mark at either, but Rashid insists he’s come back a much more learned player. “I played five-over and was placed 110th (in the individuals). It gave me such an idea of what I need to do with my game. It’s all about mind control when the playing level becomes harder, and that’s the lesson I’ll take ahead from there,” he said.

The juggling of commitments means there isn’t much scope to plan his year, but he knows what his target for the season is.

“This time I want to win the amateur order of merit. That’s what I’m aiming for,” he said. Another year of amateur skill sharpening beckons the youngster, but going by the show in his first dedicated season to the circuit, it’s a season to look forward to.