‘ Golf is growing in India’
Former cricketers Kapil Dev, Shaun Pollock, Mahela Jayawardene and a host of other players batted for golf in India at the Louis Philippe Celebrity Pro- Am in Bengaluru on Saturday. The tournament was hosted at the picturesque Prestige Golfshire Club and marked the culmination of the $ 75,000 Louis Philippe Cup, a PGTI and ADT co- sanctioned event.
Delhi based professional golfer Rashid Khan, a two- time winner on the Asian Tour and the joint runners- up along with Om Prakash Chauhan at the LP Cup that concluded on Friday, led his team consisting of former India cricketers Ajit Agarkar and Murali Kartik along with amateur Faiz Rizwan to victory in the ProAm. Rashid’s team managed a total score of 51 at the end of the Modified Scramble format competition, to walk- away with the trophies.
Said former South Africa bowling all- rounder Shaun Pollock, “It’s amazing to see how golf has been growing in India. The number of youngsters that I have heard of making India proud in recent times is just very inspiring.
“Starting from Anirban, Shubhankar, Rahil, Rashid Khan and the professionals who we played with today are just a small showcase on how much talent exists in this country.”
Added former Mumbai and India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar, “It was great fun to play alongside Rashid Khan and Murali Karthik. There’s so much still to learn from the professionals. Just watching them play helps you learn so many new things about the sport of golf.”
“Today was more like a team sport. Unlike cricket, it’s different here. Here you play on your own. Both sports have their unique challenges. Golf is a sport where you keep challenging yourself everyday. It’s no one else to help there on the course and that’s where it becomes a lot of fun.
“It’s heartening to see so many kids take up golf seriously and trying to build a career in it. We have had a lot of youngsters making us proud and I strongly feel it wouldn’t be long before we see many more taking greater strides in golf from India.”
Former hockey goalkeeper Ashish Ballal also took part in the event.