Indian golfers have to overcome a lot to shine. Firstly, there are hardly any good facilities or training available. Secondly, there are hardly any international tournaments in India. In golf, more than any other sport home-court advantage plays a vital role. If you have played in a golf course a lot of times, you know all the little secrets, you know all the little tricks and have a great advantage over others. Last year, things looked promising for Indian golf. For the very first time, there were four international tournaments in India. But this year, due to security and financial concerns the tournaments have dropped to two. Compare this with Thailand which has seven tournaments and China, Japan and South Korea which have dozens.

The prize money and ranking points offered in one of the two Indian golf tournaments is exactly the same as the prize money offered in a golf tournament in Cambodia! But Indians seem naturally talented in golf and are overcoming these difficulties and shining on the world stage.

Gangjeet has been a case of ‘always a brides-maid, never a bride’. He claimed a silver medal in Asian Games. He had a golden chance to win the inaugural Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational but was pipped to the title by one shot. He finished second again in the recent SAIL Indian Open. So this win will go a long way in putting that monkey firmly behind his back. Gangjeet, who had been taking the help of a hypnotherapist said elatedly after the win: “Whatever doubts there were in my mind, have been removed over the past few weeks. I am getting more and more focussed towards winning. The therapy has helped me”.

This young lad along with other talented youths like Anirban Lahiri and Muniyappa are sure to keep the Indian golfing flame ignited by the glorious achievements of Jeev Milkha Singh, burning brightly over the years to come. The Gen-Y of Indian golf has arrived. Maybe, the next Tiger Woods will be from the land of the tiger!