For Gangjee, the grass is greener in Eurasia
NEW DELHI: The gateway drug theory, “grass” inevitably leading to something darker, isn’t universally accepted. Of Web. com Tour’s role as a gateway to the big stage, though, there remains no ambiguity. It is why Rahil Gangjee, having spent two years on the PGA Tour’s satellite i n pursuit of t he American dream, has decided not to go back.
In 2012, Gangjee’s second season on the PGA Tour, rules were changed and for “outsiders” like Gangjee, direct access to the highest level was all but scrapped. Q-School, till then a ticket to the top tier, would now only grant the right to play on the much less lucrative developmental tour.
Those qualifying would be the top 25 via earnings through events ranging from $550,000 to $800,000, and another 25 from the Web.com Tour Finals, a season finale of four milliondollar events also open to the PGA Tour’s underachievers.
In his own words, Gangjee “loves the country but not the tour”. As such, he would have gone back “had they increased the prize money of the events”. But other factors played a part, and he decided that the low purses simply are “not good enough”. Depth of field — “on any given week, there are 60 to 80 guys, each equally capable of winning” — was one, but what sealed the deal was the grass. Having earned his stripes in warmer climes, it’s the hybrids of Bermuda grass that he’s used to, not the variants of Bent employed by most courses in the Americas. Tired of “figuring out putts all the time”, he has finally decided to set his sights elsewhere.
Around this time next year, the Kolkata golfer will try and qualify for the European Tour. Apart from getting to “spend more time at home”, Gangjee believes he will also feel more at home. By his own admis- sion, his belief is based solely on his experience at events cosanctioned with Asian Tour. Then again, Asia, “is my backyard”, something he showed at the Delhi Golf Club on Thursday.
A card chock-full of birdies — seven in all — blemished by a lone bogey saw him finish Day 1 of the Panasonic Open two ahead. Reading the lines was not an issue. Carrying on the momentum might be — since his return from America, he has finished in the top 10 six times. A second Asian Tour title to go with the one won a decade ago remains elusive. Maybe, this weekend.