A lift and casual chat that set Ghei on course

NEW DELHI: The tale dates back to the days when the venerable Maruti 800 held sway over Indian roads. Like the car’s controls, life was uncomplicated, but it was during one such ride that Gaurav Ghei came away with impressions of a man that are difficult to fathom in today’s context.

The decision to turn professional was taken in 1991, but soon Ghei was scouting for a sponsor to fund his forays into Asia. Word was spread, and it was during a pro event at Chennai in early 1993 that he met N Srinivasan during the pro-am. “My hotel was nearby and he (Srinivasan) offered to drop to me,” said Ghei during a practice session ahead of this week’s $300,000 SAIL-SBI Open at the Delhi Golf Club.

Srinivasan at the wheel of a Maruti 800, a conversation was struck and soon Ghei had an offer to visit his office. The GAURAV GHEI, recalls the tale of how India Cements became his sponsor next day being the tournament opener, Ghei forgot, and had it not been for a phone call from Srinivasan’s office, the golfer’s hunt for a sponsor would have stretched on.

“It was around 4.30pm and I had just finished my round,” reminisced the 45-year-old. “The gentleman from his office reminded me about the meeting and sent a car.”

Once there, Ghei found himself writing out a letter that was to lead to The India Cements Limited (Srinivasan is the vice-chairman and managing director) sponsoring him for a year. “Mr Srinivasan read the contents but made me strike out the tenure. ‘Make it three years,’ he said.”

A magnanimous sponsor behind him, Ghei went on to win thrice on the Asian Tour and became the first Indian to feature in a Major when he qualified for The Open Championship in 1997.

Since then, the association has flowered, and Ghei has done his bit. “I’ve always spent it (the sponsorship money) as if it’s mine,” he said, explaining the prudent spending.

With Srinivasan assuming a behemoth profile, their meetings have dried up but Ghei knows his sponsor is always a “phone call away”.