Chawrasia plays mentor while charting course
NEW DELHI: Vijay Prasad Chaurasia played golf at a time when avenues were few and activity centred around the Royal Calcutta Golf Club (RCGC), where he practiced. There was no denying the talent, as despite the limited opportunities he went on to make a name on the circuit.
The problem lay in delivering under pressure, and that perhaps prevented him from moving to a higher level. Son, Punit, is battling on the same front. Though promising, the 23-year-old amateur is guilty of throwing it away regularly. SSP Chawrasia is a man on a mission himself. While attempting to end the title jinx at the Hero Indian Open, the uncle is making sure Punit learns a thing or two by being a part of top-flight golf.
Saturday was an extension of the work in progress. Whenever home, SSP summons Punit and Sunit, arguably more talented of the two brothers, to watch him practice at RCGC.
Punit was on the bag last year as well and watched as SSP fell agonizingly short. The title had eluded him the fourth time, but SSP was a picture of dignity as he left the Delhi Golf Club.
Punit got a lesson straightaway after tee-off on Saturday. SSP started with a birdie to declare his intent, which isn’t often the case with the boy. Poor starts have dogged him in his sevenyear career, and impacted proceedings thereafter.
Few words were exchanged as SSP showed the way with his deeds. The message got through. “There is always the next hole (in case of a bad start), and with it comes a birdie opportunity,” said Punit.
There was a hat-trick of birdies before making the turn, but thereafter the putter went cold. SSP stayed steadfast to keep a clean slate and ended the day with a twoshot advantage. Familiarity was an ally but when in bother on the back nine, it was skill and a cool head that prevented damage. The significance was not lost on the duo. “On the 10th and 12th I had to makes saves,” said SSP. Finding himself in the bushes on the 12th, he came out only to land in the grass bunker. From there, it was a chip-in for par. “If you don’t make bogeys, the birdies count even more,”
he said.