When Indians make headlines for beating Tiger Woods, it ought to go down in history books. Especially so when it is on the country’s top golf course Delhi Golf Club.
When Indians make headlines for beating Tiger Woods, it ought to go down in history books. Especially so when it is on the country’s top golf course Delhi Golf Club. The protege of the course - having played there from his toddler days — Shiv Kapur couldn’t have asked for a better venue, a stronger gallery and a bigger competition than the world No.1, who was in India on his maiden visit.
“You always think about the day you will face Tiger and that I would hole this putt on my home course to beat Tiger Woods. To beat him, even on this small match is something I will take to the grave with me.”
The Asian Games gold medalist admits Tiger put the floodlights on Indian golf but wonders if it can change the thinking of the way we approach sports.
“Playing global courses is never easy and Indians are constantly having to adjust to them because we have hardly practiced on international style course or golf ranges.”
Golf unlike cricket cant be practiced anywhere, off a street or in a maidan. It needs infrastructure, a bit like tennis. The government has long considered the game elitist and discriminated against it as it needs large land parcels to make a course. But given how many administrative officers play the game, and were down there to watch Woods, one hopes change is round the bend.
As a player Shiv perceives two problems in India. “I just think there is no system in golf. Issues are two fold. We don’t have a coaching and training system — it’s only a personal effort. Second, quality of practice facilities and courses are poor.”
Given that Tiger is one of the biggest celebrities in the world, Shiv hopes his visit has transcended the sport beyond boundaries. One wonders then if Tiger signals change in the corporate approach to golf? Can he bring the much needed spotlight for the sport in India as well?
“Just from a corporate standpoint, one hopes the game will get more attention. For now Pawan Munjal and Hero — what better way than to bring Tiger to India. The group has rooted for the Indian Open for year. I think Woods’ visit brings a whole new awareness in golf,” Shiv shares.
The country is obsessed with Bollywood and cricket and so if takes some of those personalities to come out and play to push for the game, why not asks Shiv who spent hours discussing golf with Sachin Tendulkar after the cricketer received his Bharat Ratna a day ago. “If it takes a cricketer to make golf big and put it on the front page, let’s do it,” Shiv asserts. “We need icons in golf, and we are not there just yet.”
—Shaili Chopra is a senior business journalist and a golf entrepreneur/founder of golfingindian.com
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