‘ Lahiri is one reason I am here’
Emiliano Grillo, a contemporary of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in American college golf, may not yet have a CV like the other two, but the Argentine star is comfortable in his own skin ahead of his maiden Hero Indian Open.
The 25- year- old made a stunning debut on the PGA Tour, winning in his first start at the 2015 Frys. com Open, a couple of weeks after winning the Web. com Tour Championship and qualifying for the main tour.
Golf apart, he loves travel and culture. “I like travelling. I love planes — nobody usually says that. But I like travelling, I like different cultures, I like learning about new cities and countries. Coming to Asia was always on the agenda and this was a good opportunity and it fitted my schedule,” the Argentine said on the tournament’s eve.
“Anirban is one of the reasons that I decided to come play here. I get along with him and I thought maybe we could play a few rounds out here like we do in the US. He’s such a good guy, there’s no reason not to get along with him.”
While Spieth and Thomas have won majors and risen as high as no. 1 and 2 in the world rankings, Grillo is still searching for his second win on the Tour.
He elaborated, “Well, it’s not often you get two guys under 24 years old who get to one and two in the world. I got up to 20 in the world, so I think I did pretty good for myself.
“I think they have done very well for themselves and I’m hoping to get there. I never expected to be 20 in the world at 23, 24 years old. I feel I’m in a good position. I know the peak of a golfer is between 27 and 32 years old. You see guys like Sergio ( Garcia) winning the Masters at 34.
“It takes a while. These guys have done it in the first five years, so it’s very impressive. It’s hard to compare myself to something like that. It’s something that I definitely look up to, something that I want to be doing. I want to get to No1 in the world in the next year, but I’m taking it slowly. I know that I have a long road ahead and I’m not in a hurry.”
Coming to Asia was always on the agenda and this was a good opportunity and it fitted my schedule EMILIANO GRILLO GOLFER